Petechiae or cherry angioma? Talk me down

[Foreverbaffled]

Having a bit of a moment - due to see GP in a week and I’ll raise it then but just looking for some reassurance in the meantime.

I have just seen lots of red pin prick dots on my upper thighs and torso (maybe 15 on each thigh and 10 on torso) Honestly they could have been there ages but now I’ve noticed them I keep spotting lots more. They vary in size from bright red dots (like with a red biro) to bigger ones a couple of mm in size. The vast majority are raised above the skin but the teeny ones are flat. They don’t blanch. They aren’t in a cluster so much as dotted around randomly. Some of them have sort of joined up to form a bigger raised mound.

I’ve been struggling with inner ear issues since Covid and am on doxycycline at the moment for otitis externa (they wouldn’t give me drops as couldn’t see me in person). I’ve also had lots of dry skin around my eyes and occasional pink eye.

I’ve got myself worried that these spots are petechiae! No other symptoms, no bleeding or fatigue etc. I found cherry angiomas online and thought it might be that? I’m late 30s. Will try and attach photos. They are all the same bright red.

I don't know for definite OP but I have the same thing on the tops of my arms. I noticed it in the last few years (I'm 38) and it hasn't changed and my health is good otherwise. I'm not worried but curious if you get an answer.

Thats precisely what my cherry angiomas look like

I'm 35, have very sensitive skin and I do get these come up in the summer from the sun exposure (I wear sun cream daily too). Mine are tiny dots though, like pin picks. Maybe send a photo to gp

They’re cherry angiomas. I have tons, more than that. Had never thought twice about them tbh

I have a few on chest. Assumed they were due to age and skin exposure.

Thanks @Yamaya Ill let you know what the GP says. If you’ve had yours for years I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.

Thanks @Owlsinmybedroom that helps a lot. Do yours vary in size? The bigger ones concern me less as are so clearly raised above the skin. It’s the tiny flat pin prick ones that worry me more but they are all the same colour. Mine also don’t disappear when I touch them and lots of reports say that cherry angiomas should.

@Cheesewiz that’s interesting! Thank you, maybe sun exposure too!

That’s so reassuring @Cuppasoupmonster! Are some of yours only pin prick in size and flat too?

Yes absolutely! And in clusters. Some are so tiny you really have to look for them and yes completely flat. I tried to take a photo but they don’t show well on my crappy camera, but honestly mine are just like yours (but more of them). They started appearing 7+ years ago at least.

Yep, I have tiny flat pink prick ones and a handful of raised bigger ones.

Mine don't disappear even when I press on them hard but I had them investigated years ago and they are definitely cherry angiomas

@Cuppasoupmonster and @Owlsinmybedroom thank you both so much. Am feeling massively more reassured 🙂 Feels like they have come out of nowhere but chances are they’ve been there a while. I will mention to GP but won’t panic in the meantime!

Have you had any scans with contrast at all? Mine came after that and my GP said anecdotally, he had noticed them appearing after those and thought it might be related to the iodine (I think it is, I'm dredging this out of my memory) in the dye

No nothing at all @Owlsinmybedroom. That’s interesting though! I wonder if covid had anything to do with it. I’ve read various stuff online that they don’t really know the cause of cherry angiomas but there are some theories around recent viral infections or even pregnancy. I’ve definitely had some of mine for years but just suddenly noticed many more. I have a toddler though and don’t spend much time analysing my body so could have actually appeared a while ago!

I've had petechiae on and off for years. Generally on legs and arms. It looked awful a short while ago. At that time I was being investigated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma because of that, night sweats, tiredness and raised lymph nodes. Turned out to be perimenopause. Not had any since starting HRT. Age 44.

Sample of the petechiae

Thanks @SophiaLarsen for sharing your photo. I’m glad you got to the bottom of it. It does look very different to what I have though so assuming mine is cherry angiomas as has been suggested 🙂

I’ve gotten more too since age/pregnancy. Cherry anginomas.

doxycycline makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight too.

I have these (cherry Angiomas) and mast cell activation syndrome (along with range of other conditions) - was told they are more common with this MCAS, they are full of mast cells apparently. Hope that helps someone!

ahhhhhh - life suddenly makes so much more sense! 😀Thanks for this, that actually is probably whats happened with me then

That’s fascinating! I looked up MCAS as hadn’t heard of it but I have to say I have a lot of the symptoms listed. I have a connective tissues disorder (EDS - benign version) and POTS so assumed a lot of my symptoms were down to that but maybe a cross over? Thanks for sharing.

Sorry meant to tag @Namechange600 in that last post.

I have loads of them.

I have loads all over my torso, they appeared when I was pregnant.

@Foreverbaffled Haha- I also have POTS and probable EDS! (And severe endometriosis and adenomyosis) 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

MCAS / POTS / EDS are often found together I understand

@Namechange600 It has to all be linked! Wow.