# How do I identify what look like needle marks on an elderly person? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721 "2010-06-27T22:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/1 "2010-06-27T22:36:59Z")
I saw my aunt today. She had some very small reddish spots on her arms. Pinprick size. Needle size. In places where you’d put needles. The staff at the care home say she hasn’t been given any injections recently, and I’m inclined to believe them. So I’m wondering what they might be. Unfortunately my search-fu is weak and all that come up are rather alarming pictures of drug abusers. Can someone please point me to a suitable resource? I’m rather reluctant to speak to her doctor without more information. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/2 "2010-06-27T22:43:07Z")
Just because she hasn’t been given any injections, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had any blood drawn. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/3 "2010-06-27T22:50:46Z")
Missed the edit window- You might also look up rashes, petechiae, and elderly skin care. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/4 "2010-06-28T00:10:58Z")
If they begin to hurt, you might think about shingles. Small red bumps is how my mother’s case started. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/5 "2010-06-28T00:49:08Z")
When you say, “places you’d put needles”, what do you mean, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/6 "2010-06-28T00:58:54Z")
I’ll guess she has [bedbug bites](http://www.bedbuginfo.com/bed-bug-bite-symptoms.php) - they tend to form a bit of a pattern or line. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/7 "2010-06-28T07:02:37Z")
> [@Silvorange](#): > > Just because she hasn’t been given any injections, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had any blood drawn. :smack: :smack: :smack: This is almost certainly it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-identify-what-look-like-needle-marks-on-an-elderly-person/544721/8 "2010-06-28T07:54:23Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > :smack: :smack: :smack: > > This is almost certainly it. Thanks. Nonsense! Your aunt is addicted to smack, the ope, the poppy bagel paradise! Just kidding. Hope your aunt is in good health.