Cherry angiomas are common skin growths that can develop on most areas of your body. They usually don’t require treatment, but bleeding can occur if the angioma is scratched, rubbed, or cut open. Options for surgical removal are available.
What are cherry angiomas?
Red moles, or cherry angiomas, are common skin growths that can develop on most areas of your body. They’re also known as senile angiomas or Campbell de Morgan spots.
They’re usually found on people aged 30 and older. The collection of small blood vessels inside a cherry angioma give them a reddish appearance.
This type of skin growth is typically not a cause for concern unless it bleeds often or changes in size, shape, or color. Talk to your doctor if you notice any bleeding or changes in appearance. These could be symptoms of skin cancer.
What do they look like?
A cherry angioma is often bright red, circular or oval in shape, and small — usually ranging in size from a pinpoint to about one-fourth of an inch in diameter. Some cherry angiomas appear smooth and even with your skin, while others appear slightly raised. They most often grow on the torso, arms, legs, and shoulders.
Bleeding can occur if the angioma is scratched, rubbed, or cut open.
What causes cherry angiomas?
The exact cause of red moles is unknown, but there may be a genetic factor that makes certain people more likely to get them. They’ve also been linked to pregnancy, exposure to chemicals, certain medical conditions, and climate.
There also appears to be a link between cherry angiomas and age. They often begin to appear when individuals reach 30 years old and seem to increase in size and number with age. One studyTrusted Source noted that over 75 percent of people over 75 years old have them.
How are cherry angiomas treated?
You probably won’t need to have a cherry angioma treated, but you do have options if you want it removed for cosmetic reasons.
You might need to have it removed if it’s in an area that is easily bumped, which can lead to regular bleeding.
There are a few common procedures for removing red moles.
Electrocauterization
This surgical method of treatment involves burning the angioma by using an electric current delivered by a tiny probe. For this procedure, you’ll also have a grounding pad placed somewhere on your body to ground the rest of your body from a surge of electricity.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery involves freezing the angioma with liquid nitrogen. The extreme cold will destroy it. This method is known for being a quick and relatively easy procedure.
You often only need one treatment session for cryosurgery to work, and the liquid nitrogen is usually sprayed for only about 10 seconds. The wound doesn’t require much care afterward.
Laser surgery
This type of surgery involves using a pulsed dye laser (PDL) to get rid of the cherry angioma. The PDL is a concentrated yellow laser that gives off enough heat to destroy the lesion. This method is quick and is done as an outpatient procedure, which means you won’t have to stay in the hospital overnight.
Depending on how many angiomas you have, you may need between one and three treatment sessions. This surgery can cause slight bruising, which can last up to 10 days.
Shave excision
This procedure involves removing the angioma from the top portion of skin. Shave excision is an alternative to invasive surgery that would involve cutting out the lesion or growth and using stitches, or sutures, to close the wound.
If you do have angiomas removed with any of these methods, scarring is uncommon but always possible.
When to seek medical treatment for cherry angiomas
If you notice any changes in the way a red mole looks, schedule an appointment with your doctor. It’s important to have any type of lesion or growth looked at when its appearance changes or if the diagnosis is unknown. Your doctor will be able to rule out serious conditions, such as skin cancer.
Your doctor may decide to do a biopsy, which involves removing and examining a small sample of the area or the entire lesion, to diagnose or rule out other conditions.
Cherry angiomas and long-term outlook
A cherry angioma won’t go away on its own, but it’s also unlikely to cause you any problems. It may bleed from time to time if it’s irritated.
However, a red mole that changes in size, shape, or color is always cause for concern and should be looked at by your primary care doctor or dermatologist.
