Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee) are pinpoint, round spots that form on the skin. They're caused by bleeding, which makes the spots look red, brown or purple. The spots often form in groups and may look like a rash. The spots are often flat to the touch and don't lose color when you press on them. Sometimes they appear on the inner surfaces of the mouth or the eyelids.
Petechiae are common and can be caused by many different conditions. Some may be very serious.
Tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, link the smallest parts of your arteries to the smallest parts of your veins. Petechiae form when capillaries bleed, leaking blood into the skin. The bleeding may be caused by:
Tiny spots on the face, neck and chest can be caused by straining for a long time from coughing, vomiting, giving birth or lifting weights.
Petechiae may result from taking some types of medicine, including phenytoin (Cerebyx, Dilantin-125, others), penicillin and quinine (Qualaquin).
Petechiae may be caused by infection with a fungus, virus or bacteria. Examples of these types of infection include:
Petechiae may be caused by other medical conditions. Examples include:
Some of the causes of tiny round spots on the skin, called petechiae, can be potentially serious. See a member of your health care team soon if you develop petechiae all over the body, or you can't identify the cause of the petechiae.
