Health Encyclopedia

Bleeding into the skin

Definition

Bleeding under the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny pinpoint red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in larger flat areas (called purpura), or in a very large bruised area (called an ecchymosis).

Alternative Names

Ecchymoses; Skin spots - red; Pinpoint red spots on the skin; Petechiae

Considerations

Aside from the common bruise, bleeding into the skin or mucous membranes is a very significant sign and should always be checked out. Redness of the skin (erythema) should not be mistaken for bleeding. Petechiae, purpura, and ecchymosis do not become pale (blanch) with pressure. The redness of erythema decreases and then returns when you apply and then release pressure to it.

Common Causes

Injury or trauma
Allergic reaction
Autoimmune disorders
Viral infection or illness affecting blood coagulation
Thrombocytopenia
Medical treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy
Antiplatelet medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix)
Bruise (ecchymosis)
Birth (petechiae in the newborn)
Aging skin (ecchymosis)
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (petechiae and purpura)
Henoch-Schonlein purpura (purpura)
Leukemia (purpura and ecchymosis)
Drugs
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin or heparin (ecchymosis)
- Aspirin (ecchymosis)
- Steroids (ecchymosis)
Septicemia (petechiae, purpura, ecchymosis)

Home Care

Protect aging skin. Avoid trauma such as bumping or pulling on skin areas.

For a cut or scrape, use direct pressure to stop the bleeding.

If you have a drug reaction, ask your health care provider about stopping the drug.

Otherwise, follow your prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause of the problem.

Call your health care provider if

Contact your health care provider if:

You have sudden bleeding into the skin for no apparent reason
You notice unexplained bruising that does not go away

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will examine you and ask questions about the bleeding, such as:

Have you recently had an injury or accident?
Have you been ill lately?
Have you had radiation therapy or chemotherapy?
What other medical treatments have you had?
Do you take aspirin more than once a week?
Do you take Coumadin, heparin, or other "blood thinners" (anticoagulants)?
Has the bleeding occurred repeatedly?
Have you always had a tendency to bleed into the skin?
Did the bleeding start in infancy (for example, with circumcision)?
Did it start with surgery or when you had a tooth pulled?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

Coagulation tests including INR and prothrombin time
CBC with platelet count and blood differential
Bone marrow biopsy

Review Date:5/17/2007
Reviewed By:Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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