What are the tiny red spots on my sister's inner arm that look like little blood clots?

Question

I have noticed tiny red spots on her right inner arm near her elbow area.  They look like pin pricks or tiny burst vessels and over a few days' time they expand to the size of about a pencil eraser.  Then they fade and disappear within a week.  I have asked her about them.  She says she has not bruised herself but when she touches these spots she says they sometimes feel slightly tender.  She says she has asked her primary care physician and her dermatologist about them.  Her PC physician ran a blood test and said nothing came up.  Her dermatologist said these are "age issues."  My sister is in her late 50s.
She is on synthroid for thyroid replacement hormone and atenelol to keep her BP low due to a small aortic aneurysum and a condition called Long QT syndrome as well as another heart condition called Patent Foramen Ovale. 
Should I be concerned for her?  What other avenues should she explore medically?  Why are these marks almost always on the right arm (yes, she is right handed.)

Stephanie · Accepted Answer

Actually most women her age that are hormonally imbalanced have the same red spots. Most drs just let the woman suffer and they do not know this as a sign of a problem.  Drs dont usually do anything about hormone problems until its way to late unless they are hormone specialists. The spots do not cause harm to the woman. 

I would have her research westroid for thyroid issues because its more natural yet pharmacy grade. (dont let the pharmacy give you a different brand) .  She also needs Iodoral (iodine) to help her even more. She only takes it for 6 months.

Hormones fluctuate so the spots go away and come back. The Iodoral and the westroid will help her stabilize.

liptrap · Answer

Red Spots On Inner Arm

july · Answer

These may be petechiae.  I am 46 and have had petechiae scattered all over my body since I was 15.  They look like tiny raised red dots, and mine are permanent.

Sometimes petechiae can have sinister causes, but just as often they're idiopathic (no known cause) and harmless.  The blood test her PC ran probably was to determine whether her platelet count was low; this can cause petechiae.  I'm not aware that thyroid hormones or atenolol can cause petechiae, but as your sister has multiple health problems, including those of a cardiac nature, she should inspect the petechiae periodically to make sure they aren't appearing rapidly or causing significant pain.

As she's been evaluated by her PC and a dermatologist, she probably shouldn't worry.   She, and you, may want to do more searching about petechiae for more information.

loma · Answer

Sounds like hives. Did you eat anything unusual, start a new medicine, or were you exposed to something you might be allergic to? If it doesn't go away, it's time to see a doctor. Meanwhile, but back on spicy foods, and drink LOTS of water. If you can afford to be sleepy, antihistamine could help. I personally find that if I need to be sharp for school or work, it's better to itch than be sleepy, and only take antihistamine in the evening.

Anonymous · Answer

Sometimes people get red dots when their blood pressure gets too high, and then they go away or it could be caused from one of the meds she's taking... There's probably a lot of different reasons for it, it could even possibly be an allergic reaction of some sort.

But, if you/ your sister is not satisfied with the answer from her doctor and she thinks that something else is going wrong she needs to get a second opinion.  She could just go to a different doctor or ask her doctor to refer her to a specialist.  

good luck

twinsister · Answer

Ihave the same red spot on my chest.

Michael D · Answer

They are probably jsut from old age and shell be just fine.  When you get old your skin is week and can do weird things but dont worry.

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What are the tiny red spots on my sister's inner arm that look like little blood clots?

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