What are angiomas?
Angiomas are benign growths made up of small blood vessels. They can appear anywhere on the body. The three most common types are spider angiomas, angiokeratomas, and cherry angiomas.
Cherry angiomas are red or purplish in color and don't usually grow larger than 1/4-inch in diameter. They can appear alone or in clusters. They are not dangerous.
What causes cherry angiomas?
No one knows what causes angiomas. Since they commonly appear after the age of 40, they may be related to aging.
What is the treatment?
Occasionally angiomas may become irritated (such as from rubbing against clothing) and need to be removed to avoid further problems. However, since most angiomas are harmless, most people have them treated for cosmetic reasons.
There are three ways to have angiomas removed:
- Electrodessication uses an electric needle to destroy the blood vessels in the growth.
- Liquid nitrogen is a cold gas applied to the skin to freeze off the growth.
- Laser treatment uses a beam of intense, focused light to remove the growth.
If an angioma recurs after treatment, your physician can repeat treatment until it is gone for good.
Source: Vivacare
Last updated : 1/8/2019