Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Purpura Simplex test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Purplish rash
Purple discolored spots
Purple spots on the skin
Purpura spots
There are purple bumps on the skin
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
This is simple bruising and is very common. It often looks like purple/red dots and patches in the skin.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Bruising is common and does not need treatment. However, if bruising occurs frequently, a check-up and blood tests may be helpful to ensure there is no underlying problem with blood clotting.
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
We would love to help them too.
With a free 3-min Purpura Simplex quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms

Our AI

Your report

Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
See full list
Q.
Petechiae: Red Spots on Skin Over 65 & When to See a Doctor
A.
Petechiae in adults over 65 are tiny red, purple, or brown pinpoint spots that do not blanch, and while often harmless from aging skin, minor pressure, or medications, they can also reflect vitamin deficiencies, infections, or blood and immune disorders. See below for key details on causes, evaluation, and treatment, and talk to a doctor promptly if spots are new or spreading, you feel unwell or have fever, other bleeding occurs, you take blood thinners, or they do not fade in 1 to 2 weeks, since some situations need urgent care.
References:
* Cohen AD, Cohen EJ. Purpura in older adults. Clin Geriatr Med. 2018 Feb;34(1):89-102.
* Nguyen M, Strazzulla LC. Approach to Petechiae and Purpura. Dermatol Clin. 2020 Jul;38(3):275-282.
* Tsuchida Y, Nakajima H, Shimada S. Senile purpura: a review. Jpn J Clin Dermatol. 2020 Oct;74(11):1142-1147.
* Aster RH, Sayer HG. Thrombocytopenia in Older Adults. Clin Geriatr Med. 2017 Feb;33(1):31-40.
* Greinacher A, Warkentin TE. Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018 Feb 22;4(1):1-18.
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.

“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024

“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023

“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)

Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Pang BK, Su D, Ratnam KV (1994). Drug-induced purpura simplex: clinical and histological characteristics. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8129346/Modi AV (2011). Spontaneous Bruising in a Family Practice Population: How common and how benign is it? Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21221312/García-Legaz Martínez M, Martínez-Doménech Á, Pérez-Pastor G, Magdaleno-Tapial J, Valenzuela-Oñate C, Alegre-de Miquel V, Pérez-Ferriols A (2019). Nonthrombocytopenic, noninflammatory simplex purpura during sunitinib therapy. International journal of dermatology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30957224/