20 Cause of Petechiae and What You Need to Know About Them
12. Leukemia

One of the earliest visible signs of leukemia—a cancer of the blood and bone marrow—can be petechiae. As leukemia progresses, it interferes with the body’s ability to produce platelets, causing unexplained bleeding and pinpoint red spots. These spots often appear on the chest, arms, or legs and may go unnoticed at first. If petechiae are accompanied by persistent fatigue, frequent infections, night sweats, or swollen lymph nodes, a full blood panel and bone marrow biopsy may be necessary. Early detection is crucial, as petechiae could be your body's quiet first signal of a much larger battle ahead.