Red spots on your skin can be caused by a number of things, and you’ll need to pinpoint the cause to treat the spots effectively. In this blog, we discuss common reasons for red spots on the skin and how to treat them. 

What Causes Small Red Spots on the Skin?

There are many reasons you may be seeing red dots on your skin.  Red rashes can emerge due to allergic reactions like contact dermatitis, or for numerous other reasons. Pityriasis rosea, acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis some of the most common skin conditions that may cause small red spots. In addition to skin conditions, there are many infections, including viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, that can cause red spots on your skin. These infections include chickenpox and rubella, which we’ll cover later on this blog. Finally, the small red dots on your skin may not be an external rash at all, but petechiae, or tiny spots of bleeding under your skin. We’ll cover that in more detail later on in this blog.

It can be a bit overwhelming to learn there are so many possible causes, so we will begin by breaking down some of the most common conditions that cause red spots first.

5 Conditions that Cause Red Spots on the Skin

1. Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea is a rash that is most commonly recognized by a herald patch (also known as a “mother” patch), which is the only noticeable red patch for one to two weeks. A herald patch can appear pink to violet in color depending on your skin tone, and it can range from very small up to four inches.

Following the mother patch, other patches will appear on your torso, upper arms, thighs, or neck. These newer patches, known as daughter patches, are smaller than the mother patch and are oval shaped. Patches caused by pityriasis rosea can last up to ten weeks. This condition is neither contagious nor especially serious, and although it usually clears up on its own, your dermatologist may prescribe medications to ease your symptoms.

2. Acne

Acne is an extremely common skin condition that affects millions of Americans. Although teenagers in particular are more likely to experience acne, people of all ages may be affected by it. The four types of acne are comedones, papules or pustules, nodules, and cystic acne. Acne has many possible causes, including excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, or a combination of these factors. Acne can lead to skin discoloration and permanent scarring. While acne is not harmful, it can affect a person’s self esteem.

The color of the acne may indicate which type of acne it is. If the bumps are white, it may be merely a clogged pore, while red bumps signal inflamed acne, including papules, pustules, or nodules.

3. Atopic Dermatitis

If you often find yourself breaking out in red spots, you may have atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema. This is a skin condition that affects the skin’s ability to protect from allergens, irritants, and bacteria. Atopic dermatitis causes itchy reddish rashes on areas like the neck, wrists, and arms and legs. It also is a common pediatric skin condition.

Atopic dermatitis cannot be cured, but there are ways to manage it and to reduce the discomfort caused by symptoms.

4. Contact Dermatitis

Another form of rash that may cause red spots or patches is contact dermatitis. The difference between atopic and contact dermatitis is that unlike atopic dermatitis, which is genetic and internal, contact dermatitis is triggered by external substances.

This rash can prove to be very miserable if left untreated, as the leathery red welts that result can bleed, ooze, and become infected easily. Both atopic and contact dermatitis can be treated with home remedies, but you should visit your dermatologist if symptoms persist.

5. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that causes skin cells to multiply 10 times faster than necessary, creating skin cell build-up that shows up as bumpy red patches and scaly white skin.

There are many types of psoriasis that can leave you with red spots on your skin. However, the most common type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, affecting approximately 6.7 million adults in the US. Plaque psoriasis can be considered mild, moderate, or severe depending on the percentage of the body affected.

Psoriasis isn’t the only autoimmune condition known to cause rashes. Some other diseases that may cause rashes include lupus, lichen planus, and dermatomyositis.

Irritants can be difficult to identify, but dust mites, latex, and animal dander are often found to be the cause of allergic rashes. Certain cosmetics, plants, and nickel can also be to blame. There are many infections, including viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, that can cause red spots on your skin. These infections include chickenpox and rubella, which we’ll talk about more in the next section.