# What are these red marks on my skin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309 "2009-05-22T17:14:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/1 "2009-05-22T17:14:43Z")
Disclaimer: I know this is not the place for medical advice. However I am not concerned that these are in any way harmful, I am just curious (but not curious enough to trouble my doctor). Over the last few years (I am 32) I have noticed an increasing number of small, dark red, slightly raised marks on my skin, chiefly on my upper arms, chest and shoulders although one has also developed on my cheek. I guess photos would be useful, but they range from pinhead size or smaller - almost like a tiny fleck of red paint - to maybe 2mm across, and are slightly raised. They almost look like blood blisters but they can’t be burst and they don’t seem to fade. They don’t itch, hurt or have any abnormal sensation associated with them. I tried Googling but ended up with loads of images of hideous nasty skin complaints. Any ideas what they might be? FWIW I am caucasian with a fair complexion, although I tan easily. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/2 "2009-05-22T17:40:43Z")
When I first noticed them my father said, “They’re from getting old!”, and pulled his shirt open to show me. They happen to everyone, but if you don’t like them, they can be zapped right off by a dermatologist. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/3 "2009-05-22T17:54:29Z")
Google Image “cherry angioma” and “minor petechiae” to see which one it is. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/4 "2009-05-22T18:35:46Z")
I have the cherry angiomas. My dermatologist said they were hereditary. It’s an overgrowth of capillaries. They can be easily removed by laser if they are in a cosmetically undesirable place – I had a few removed, took 2 or 3 treatments. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/5 "2009-05-22T18:38:32Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > When I first noticed them my father said, “They’re from getting old!” Yeah, that’s what I thought. While I still feel like I’m 18, more and more signs are reminding me I’m not. (Another example - when I go to the barber’s, they don’t just use the clippers on my sideburns, they use them on my _ears_ ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/6 "2009-05-22T19:17:45Z")
I have a few on my face I’d love to zap, but one is on my eyelid 1/4" from the eye :eek: ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/7 "2009-05-23T08:39:47Z")
I have a fair complexion. About two or three times a year I wake up to find what looks like a fingernail slash mark on my face. Not knowing what causes it, I have always called it a “pillow mark.” It is not there when I go to sleep but it is there when I wake up. Recently I woke up with two parallel pillow marks. That was the first time that had happened. I looked like a rapist who had been marked by his victim. I work in law enforcement so with my Cow-orkers there is no mercy given and no quarter asked. At work my loving Cow-orkers conjectured about my facial markings. One of them came up with what they agreed was the best possible explanation for my facial marks: Only two or three times a year am I so deeply asleep that my dog deems it safe to hump my face. My Cow-orkers agree that’s what causes what I call the “pillow marks.” ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/8 "2009-05-23T10:54:59Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Google Image “cherry angioma” and “minor petechiae” to see which one it is. Cherry angioma it is then. Luckily they are almost all in areas that don’t appear for public consumption very often… ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-red-marks-on-my-skin/497309/9 "2009-05-23T11:14:41Z")
Skin cancer can do the same. Have it looked at to be sure.