Stepping out of the shower, you notice red dots on your feet. Red spots on feet can be caused by a variety of skin or cardiovascular conditions. There is a good chance the person would not know what causes red spots on feet. If you notice red spots on your foot, the condition should be examined by a physician. Some common causes of red dots on feet include metals from the blood, eczema, superficial blood vessels, or an allergic reaction.
Metals From Blood Vessels
If you experienced swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet, you may notice the development of little, red dots on top of the feet. These dots are metals that were forced from the blood vessels due to the pressure caused by swelling. They are completely harmless. The metals are not reabsorbed by the blood vessels. Though the dots do not cause any physical problems, people may feel self-conscious about wearing sandals or other shoes that reveal the tops of the feet. The dots on the skin can be removed in a cosmetic procedure using a laser.
Eczema on Feet
Dry, flaky rashes are a common sign of eczema. Sometimes, an eczema rash can resemble red bumps. Red dots on the foot with accompanying dryness may be eczema. Eczema usually causes itchiness. Dry skin is susceptible to eczema rashes. Many people have dry skin on their feet. To combat this issue, moisturize the feet after showering. A special foot cream can be beneficial to treat dry skin on the feet. Avoid getting moisturizer between the toes, especially if you have diabetes. Moisturizer between the toes prolongs dampness in that area which can make the skin prone to infection.
Superficial Blood Vessels
Superficial veins are located near the skin. They are visible through the skin. Often, the superficial blood vessels look like purple or red lines. Some people have some that look like red spots or streaks. If the blood vessel breaks, the bleeding in the skin appears as tiny, red dots on the skin. The broken blood vessel can be caused by an injury.
Cherry angiomas are red spots caused by a clustering of capillaries on the skin's surface. These red dots are also known as Campbell De Morgan spots. They can be a typical sign of aging. Some people are more prone to developing cherry angiomas which makes researchers believe there may be a genetic component that makes some people more susceptible to them. The angiomas may bleed a lot if injured. They can be removed with a laser, cryosurgery, or electrosurgery.
Spotted red skin with a scaly rash could be psoriasis. This chronic skin condition can cause tiny, red circles to large patches of red, thickened skin several inches in diameter. There is no cure for psoriasis, but the condition often can be controlled with medication.
An allergic reaction often causes redness of the skin. The redness may be raised welts caused hives. An allergic reaction to food or medication can appear like red freckles all over the body. One type of allergic reaction is contact dermatitis. If a soap, detergent, cleaning solution, or other chemical comes in contact with the skin and triggers an allergic reaction, the skin may develop a red, bumpy rash. The skin may become very dry and even crack.
Some people believe that contact dermatitis or other allergic reaction could not cause the rash since they have not used anything new. While a new soap may be a likely suspect in a case of contact dermatitis, the body can develop an allergy to a substance that never caused an allergic reaction during prior uses.
These are only the most common causes of red spots on feet. In most cases, the person can get rid of red dots with home treatment. However, the red spots on skin could be a sign of a serious health problem. A cluster of red dots on the feet is sometimes a sign of an illness that requires medical treatment. Please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Pinaki Goswami on April 25, 2019:
Very informative article. Enjoyed very much. Thanks and regards.
FlourishAnyway from USA on August 05, 2014:
I've never seen or experienced these but found this hub with all the various possible causes interesting.