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Red marks or dots on the skin: what are they?

Red marks or dots on the skin: what are they?
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Most of the time, red dots on the skin are either petechiae (little broken capillaries) or ruby spots. So are they dangerous for your health? Generally no, but however you should keep an eye on them, and if they start to change rapidly or quickly multiply, you should consult a doctor.  So can we remove them? Here are a few things you need to know about these red dots. 

What are petechiae?

Petechiae (broken capillaries), or little red or purple dots generally measure 2 to 3 mm in diameter on the skin. They usually occur on the legs or on the face, but they can also affect other parts of the body, including the organs, like the bladder, for example.

Broken capillaries or petechaie have certain characteristics that will help you recognise them:

  • no pain or itching
  • They don’t disappear when you press down on them.

What causes them?

The appearance of these little marks is linked to small blood vessels breaking, which can appear, for example:

  • after having scratched yourself
  • after blocking blood flow to an area
  • in the case of a cough (they can appear on the face)
  • after vomiting or a great deal of crying (appearing on the face)
  • in the case of infection
  • in the case of allergies
  • in the case of purpura (a purplish rash caused by broken blood vessels)
  • from taking certain medications which disrupt circulation and blood coagulation
  • disorders which disrupt blood coagulation (lymphomas, leukemia, Hodgkins disease, excessive alcohol consumption, drug taking, etc.)

Are they dangerous for your health?

Yes, in certain cases, petechaie can indicate a serious infection:

  • in the case of purpura or infection
  • in the case of fever in children
  • in the case of rapid spreading: sudden purpura (purple rash) associated with meningococcal meningitis requires urgent medical attention

However, in other cases they can be benign, and the marks disappear spontaneously.

Apply cold to contain the blood flow if the capillaries are broken.

CAUTION: if the petechaie don’t disappear after a few days, in the case of fever linked to an infection or an allergic reaction, consult a doctor immediately. 

What are ruby spots?

Ruby spots are round marks on the skin, or angiomas, that measure from 2 to 9 mm in diameter, and they are a purplish red colour.

They can appear on any part of the body, but they do not disappear when you apply pressure.

What causes ruby spots?

Capillary dilation under the skin is responsible for ruby spots. This dilation is due to ageing and generally starts from about forty years of age onwards.

Here are the other risk factors that can be linked to ruby spots:

  • hormonal variations (e.g., pregnancy)
  • excess oestrogen (like with the contraceptive pill)
  • liver failure

Ruby spots appear most often on the trunk, the back of the hands, the thighs and the stomach.

Are ruby spots dangerous for your health?

No, they are benign and according to doctors, they do not pose any health risks. What’s more, it is possible to get rid of them!

Remove ruby spots with oils

Apply this mixture of 4 oils to your ruby spots:

  • Tamanu oil
  • Italian Helichrysum essential oil
  • Celery essential oil
  • Cypress essential oil

Their properties are effective for removing skin pigment and improving blood circulation.

Get rid of your ruby spots with laser treatment

The principle of laser treatment is to use heat to destroy the blood vessels that cause the appearance of ruby spots.

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