Purpura appears as little bruised areas on the skin, although they are not typical bruises. These spots, however, seem more dark brown or blackish on dark skin.

Find out more about what purpura is and whether it is harmful to health.

What is Purpura?

A purpura is an area that resembles a bruise but is not one. Purpura occurs when small blood vessels leak under the skin's surface. Purpura is not a specific medical condition but rather a sign of another condition that causes bleeding.

The medical condition that causes purpura determines its classification. There are two types of purpura: those associated with blood platelet counts and those that are not.

Read more: Why Do You Often Appear Bruises In The Body?

Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Thrombocytopenic purpura occurs when the body's platelets are low, causing the blood to clot abnormally. It will be difficult to stop the bleeding if you are cut or scratched. 

Several medical conditions that impact platelets can result in thrombocytopenic purpura, including:

• Immune thrombocytopenia or idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP): a disorder that causes excessive bleeding
• Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia:  a rare immune disorder which occurs when the baby's platelets are attacked and destroyed by the mother's immune cells
• Meningococcemia: an infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria can spread through droplets from infected people
• Splenomegaly: an enlargement of the spleen leading to impaired spleen function. This enlargement holds platelets so they do not circulate in the bloodstream

HIV, hepatitis C, lupus, bone marrow disorders, and medications that impact platelets can also result in thrombocytopenic purpura.

Non-Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Non-thrombocytopenic purpura refers to purpura that is unrelated to platelet counts in the blood. A variety of factors can contribute to this type of purpura, including:

• Medications that influence platelet function or clotting
• Blood clotting disorders
• Weakened blood vessels due to aging or sun exposure
• Congenital disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and telangiectasia
• Inflammation of blood vessels
• Vitamin C deficiency

Read more: These Are The Things That Can Cause Tromblets To Fall

Is Purpura Dangerous If Left Untreated?

Purpura cannot lead to complications because it is primarily caused by other medical diseases. The cause of purpura must be recognized immediately so that you can receive proper treatment.

Purpura indicates bleeding that requires treatment to lower the risk of complications.

When you notice purpura, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will recommend a number of procedures, including a skin biopsy and a complete blood analysis.

The etiology of purpura determines the treatment. Purpura does not always require treatment and might resolve on its own. Purpura may also require corticosteroid medications, blood transfusions, splenectomy (spleen removal), platelet-increasing therapies, or treatments to prevent the immune system from destroying platelets.

Purpura does not cause itching or pain, so you should see a doctor to figure out whether you have purpura or a normal bruise. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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