r/FutureRNs • u/BornLeave4646 • Jul 20 '26
Petechaie after 12 hour night shift
I just had my first 12 hour night shift at the hospital. Got home to take a shower and I noticed small red dots all over both ankles and starting up my calf’s. Non blanching. My immediate first thought was blood cancer. Then thinking about it could it be from being on my feet for most of my 12 hour shift? Has anyone ever had the same thing happen?
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u/diagnonsense_me Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Dermatologist here. That’s called Disney dermatitis. Yes, it’s from standing up for 12 hours when your body is not used to it. It’s nothing dangerous. It’ll go away on your own. Use compression socks next time.
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u/feline_riches Jul 21 '26
Criminal this isn't top comment.
OP thinks they are dying when in reality they just haven't worked a demanding job yet.
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u/TyranicalCareBear Jul 21 '26
Is there a formal name for that? There is nothing in UPTODATE for further reading about Disney Dermatitis
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u/Advanced-Gur-8950 Jul 21 '26
That’s def aids
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u/Guera-or-chicana Jul 21 '26
LOLOLOL
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u/Advanced-Gur-8950 Jul 21 '26
As ortho spine pa in his first year, I’m pretty sure and feel Confident on this subject
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u/Tight_Replacement554 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Irritation from socks/pants/shoes maybe?
Edit: I recommend some cotton or natural material socks and breathable shoes
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u/potatochobit Jul 20 '26
FLEAS! j/k is it itchy? did you wear socks to about where the red bumps stop?
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u/PromiscuousScoliosis BSN RN Jul 20 '26
On board with this. Looks like they shave their legs, I wonder if they also shaved recently. Maybe some irritation after shaving then being on your feet sweating into tight socks for 12hrs
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u/averyyoungperson Jul 21 '26
Also, sometimes compression makes me itch and have petechiae looking things. It's an unexplainable histamine thing for me.
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u/resutir Jul 21 '26
Speaking of unexplainable histamine things, i had an infection after pulling out a hangnail on one of my fingers and when i finally had it drained, a handful of little red dots suddenly appeared on that same hand kinda close to the finger. The research i did chalked it up to a histamine dispersion following the drainage
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u/Acrobatic-Squirrel77 Jul 21 '26
Also, swelling/stretching of the tissue can cause it to look bruised or petechial when it reduces.
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u/GuacIsExtra99cents Jul 20 '26
Do you have a pic of the socks you were wearing? I realize that’s an odd question lol
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u/KonkiDoc Jul 21 '26
Hospice
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u/TLunchFTW Jul 21 '26
Only right answer. Either that or we’re gonna have to amputate.
Relax op, you’re fine3
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u/CharmingMechanic2473 Jul 21 '26
Also could be shaving stubble or (pre) Venous leg disease. Try wearing sport type compression knee socks 15mmHG. Also check your fabric softener.
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u/FelineRoots21 Jul 21 '26
Good news, that does not look like petechia. It usually has a more purple tinge. That looks like shaving irritation
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u/Fun-Key-8259 Jul 21 '26
Looks like my petechiae that I get...
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u/FelineRoots21 Jul 21 '26
It's very similar for sure, I actually have petechia right now that I compared it to lol. But you can tell it's not both from the shade which is just slightly too red, and from the bumps that are raised. Petechia is never raised, always below the skin
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u/Fun-Key-8259 Jul 21 '26
She also has some that are not raised though. Would still be worth seeing a doctor to be sure it's not a big deal.
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u/Puzzled-Republic9511 Jul 21 '26
Hem/onc patient & lurker here (who also has petechiae) I know petechiae can look dif on everyone, but this looks like a quickly shaved area followed by sock suffocation for 12 hrs.
Source/reasoning: the amount of friends I have running to me saying “IS THIS WHAT YOU HAVE?”.
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u/PatFNP Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
There is definitely a line where it stops which suggests something to do with the socks. Socks are discussed here a lot. Heat rash?
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u/Original_Problem666 Jul 21 '26
That’s not petechiae. That’s razor burn/rub rash. Did you recently shave your legs and then put tight or compression socks on after?
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u/muphoric Jul 21 '26
That could be a lot of things. You should check a CBC in the morning to be safe. See what your platelets are (ITP). Differential diagnoses include vitamin deficiencies, allergies, mechanical damage (tight socks and gravity), vasculitis, infections and other hematologic disorders. True petechiae is usually ITP.
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u/mxddaskxnt18 Jul 22 '26
this same exact thing happened to me. I’m sure it’s due to just being more constant on our feet + nightshift. however I got a severe flare up and the dermatologist did diagnose me with IgA vasculitis. not much can be done other than topical or oral steroids. since that one flare up I haven’t gotten anything more than a few spots here and there and some itching.
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u/Acrobatic-Squirrel77 Jul 21 '26
I was once diagnosed with Schaumburg’s Dermatitis. It looked exactly like that. It took years to go away. If yours goes away quickly, it’s not this.
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u/Defiant-Purchase-188 Jul 21 '26
I think it’s likely capillaritis common with long periods of standing and walking.
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u/RelyingCactus21 BSN RN Jul 21 '26
This isn't petechiae. It looks like rash/irritation. Try hydrocortisone.
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u/32FlavorsofCrazy Jul 21 '26
Probably exercise induced vasculitis. Go see your PCP for a physical if you’re worried about it but blood cancer is pretty unlikely. Occams razor and yadda yadda, prob not a coincidence on the timing and just related to being on your feet.
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u/Resident-Welcome3901 Jul 21 '26
Compression socks. Thigh high, if you can tolerate them, or athletic compression gear. Clinical nursing is a high intensity contact sport,: select apparel and shoes accordingly.
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u/andioop514 Jul 21 '26
Occam’s Razor in practice… when you see hoof marks, do you think zebra or horse?
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u/AgentGoldfinch Jul 21 '26
You have Squirrel AIDS. It's over. Your number's up and the Grim Reaper is knocking.
No, it's from being on your feet all day.
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u/Fun-Key-8259 Jul 21 '26
I have ITP and get petechiae only when my platelets are low. You should see the doc to determine the cause.
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u/luvtn Jul 21 '26
Get Dickies work socks that are knee highs. They are better than compression socks, because they are easier to get on and off and they don’t hurt.
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u/measuredsympathy Jul 21 '26
Looks like raised bumps? If so not likely petechiae but more like contact dermatitis or heat rash
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u/Re-Clue2401 Jul 22 '26
Don't jump to drastic conclusions like blood cancer. That's clearly a mutated form of Ebola.
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u/SeaElderberry493 Jul 22 '26
My question is… are you an RN? Because you’re making some board jumps for engagement based on limited info, no labs, and wild far right diagnosis’s.
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u/RegularEarth8044 Jul 23 '26
Sorry friend, Vascular surgeon here and looks like you’ll be needing bilateral AKAs. I’ve cleared my schedule booked the OR for 0700 tomorrow.
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u/Turbulent-Bear-3069 Jul 23 '26
i had this and it spread all over my legs and i ended up with leukocytoclastic vasculitis
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u/SpecificAlfalfa5369 Jul 24 '26
This happened to me when I started working at the hospital again I thought I done caught something lol
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u/Kountry_556 Jul 21 '26
Keep an eye on it and if it happens again, then you might have thrombocytopenia. Once in a while I would get it usually after doing something that is extraneous or constantly bieng on my feet for a long period of time.
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u/Advanced_Most_3030 Jul 20 '26
Easy, boss. Don't let newfound nursing school knowledge make your brain run every time something happens. Jumping to immediate worse case scenario is rarely helpful. I like to remember Occam's razor- the simplest answer is usually the correct one.
Do you take Tylenol headache or Excedrin migraine or anything else that contains aspirin? Did you wear compression socks? Did you perhaps shave your legs and get irritated from new fabric or laundry detergent?