Cherry angiomas go by lots of different names.  They are also known as cherry hemangiomas, Campbell de Morgan spots, or senile angiomas.  These cherry angiomas are red moles made up of blood vessels.  Usually 2-4mm in size, and can range from light to dark red.  They are very common skin growths.  They can develop anywhere on the skin but are most common on the torso, arms, and legs. 

Cherry angiomas pose no threat to your overall health.  They are benign growths that aren’t dangerous or harmful.  

 

Causes

The exact cause of cherry angiomas is unknown.  Aging does play into you developing these skin growths.  By the age of 30 about 50% of adults will have a cherry angioma.  By the age of 75 that goes up to 75% of adults will have at least one cherry angioma.  They are very common as you get older. 

Pregnancy can also cause you to develop cherry angiomas, thanks to the hormones. 

If you have a family that has cherry angiomas, genetics can definitely play a role in you getting them too. 

Exposure to certain chemicals can also cause your skin to break out in cherry angiomas.  

 

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Cherry angiomas are asymptomatic.  They should cause you no pain, distress, or have any symptoms because of them.  They can usually be left alone, without any treatment. 

If you suspect you have a cherry angioma, you can ask your doctor to look at it next time you have an appointment.  There are no tests that need to be done to diagnose a cherry angioma.  A visual examination will be enough for your doctor. 

 

Treatment Options

If you want the cherry angiomas to be removed it is possible to be done by a doctor. 

There is no known home remedy for cherry angiomas. 

Trying to remove them on your own can cause pain, excessive bleeding, scarring, or infection. 

The main reason someone would want to remove a cherry angioma is because they don’t like the way it looks.  In some cases it can be in a spot that is prone to injury, where it will break open and bleed a lot.  If this happens just treat it like any wound, with proper wound care.  Clean, disinfect, and bandage the area appropriately.  

One of the ways your doctor can remove a cherry angioma is with electrocauterization.  This technique can be done by a dermatologist.  Usually for smaller angiomas.  An electric current from a tiny probe will be put on the angioma. 

Another option for removal is electrodesiccation. This is done by the angioma is touched with an electric needle, the electric needle destroys the blood vessels of the angioma. 

Cryotherapy can also be done to remove a cherry angioma.  This is when cold liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the angioma with a probe, it freezes the angioma and it will fall off within a few hours of the procedure. 

Laser techniques such as pulse dye laser, intense pulsed light laser, potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser, or neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser are all options.  All these techniques use a concentrated laser to shrink the angioma. 

For larger cherry angiomas excision may be done.  This is when the cherry angioma is removed with a sharp razor.  The procedure takes less than ten minutes, and you will have a local anesthetic put on to numb the area around the cherry angioma. 

 

 

Prevention

Even after removing the cherry angioma, they can return after some time.  They are just as harmless as the first time they appeared.  You can decide on whether or not you want to have them removed again.  There is no way to 100% prevent yourself from getting cherry angiomas, since the exact cause of them is unknown.  Avoiding certain chemicals can help decrease the chance of developing them from chemical exposure.  

 

Takeaway

Cherry angiomas are no cause to be alarmed.  If the spot grows or looks different over time you will want to get checked out by your doctor.  Some cherry angiomas can look like certain types of skin cancer.  If you experience any symptoms along with cherry angioma growths, that is also a sign of concern. 

Cherry angiomas are most of the time common skin growths that develop with age, and are no cause for alarm or scare.  If you don’t like the look of them, or they are in a spot where they get injured easily, having them removed can be done.  

 

 

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