Over the past year, I have been getting red dots on my skin. They are not raised and not itchy --> but they are bright red and increasing in number.

They are mainly on my upper arms and chest, but I do have some on my thighs, lower arms, and neck.

I went to a dermatologist who said that they were nothing to worry about and no one knew the cause. I am nervous about this diagnosis because these red dots just keep coming!

Someone suggested that it could be a problem with my blood. I found a couple of articles on it -- but I am hoping that people here can share their personal experiences and advice with me.

I'm going to my doctor soon to get a referral to a hematologist... but in the meantime, I can't help but wonder what could be wrong with me and how they will diagnose it!

Thanks for sharing any experience or advice.

Did the Dermatologist do a Complete Blood Count including Platelet Count?
These minute red spots sound like petechiae and if your Dermatologist didn't do a complete blood workup, the Hematologist surely will. I had a condition called Schamberg's Purpura which only affected my legs. There were many petechiae together in spots about the size of a quarter and is called purpura when they are grouped together. They were all over my legs and looked horrible. Needless to say, I was horrified that something terribly bad was wrong with me. I was sent to a hematologist/oncologist and after numerous tests, he couldn't diagnose it. I was then sent to a dermatologist in a larger city and he took one look and knew what it was immediately. Mine ran it's course after about 6 months and the dermatologist said there was no known cause.

However, the tiny red pinpoint dots always need to be evaluated by a doctor. Sometimes medication reactions can cause them to appear. The doctor may want to do other tests to check your bleeding/clotting time. The fact that they have been there for quite a while and I assume you aren't having any other problems is a good sign. I know what you are going through.

Oldbones

Hi there, I too, have these tiny pin point spots on my chest and upper arms - lately they have appeared on my abdomen as well - which is causing me some concern, as I am awaiting tests to see what a lesion on my liver is, and the spots are in that region. I have been on warfarin for 4 months now for DVT and PE, and generally when you begin a new medication, these spots may appear. But the ones on my abdo are just appearing now which isn't the general course of the spots, and considering my INR levels are always being so low, the chance of internal bleeding being the cause is minimal - so my doc says.

I wish I could give you more insight as to what is causing them. Let us know if you find out something more, I would appreciate any info on this myself.

Hi Naisy, I'm no doctor but I have some suggestions. There's this condition that I know where the body breaks out in spots that are not raised, though I'm not so sure that it's bright red or watever. It's called urticaria pigmentosa (sp), and it does cause itchness and the spots increase and can cover the whole body. It's linked to another condition called mastocytosis. You can check on the terms. What the dermatologist can do is to do a skin biopsy on the spots and stain them to see if you have the condition. As you say yours is dots instead of spots and are not itchy, I'm not sure if you could have this. It must be hard waiting and not knowing what is wrong. Hang in there, and I'm sure you will get some answers!

Over the past year, I have been getting red dots on my skin. They are not raised and not itchy --> but they are bright red and increasing in number.

They are mainly on my upper arms and chest, but I do have some on my thighs, lower arms, and neck.

I went to a dermatologist who said that they were nothing to worry about and no one knew the cause. I am nervous about this diagnosis because these red dots just keep coming!

Someone suggested that it could be a problem with my blood. I found a couple of articles on it -- but I am hoping that people here can share their personal experiences and advice with me.

I'm going to my doctor soon to get a referral to a hematologist... but in the meantime, I can't help but wonder what could be wrong with me and how they will diagnose it!

Thanks for sharing any experience or advice.