Are you worried about the small red moles that popped out of nowhere? It is probably cherry angioma. Is it dangerous? Do you need to have it removed?
What is Cherry Angioma?
Cherry angiomas or red moles are senile angiomas and they are common skin growths, especially in individuals ages 30 and older. The bright cherry-like spots do not indicate skin cancer, which means seeing a few on your skin should not make you worry. However, if there is an outbreak of cherry angiomas on your skin or the red skin lesion pops and bleeds, you need to visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
What exactly do they look like?
Cherry angiomas are bright red spots that are either circular or oval. Their usual sizes range from a small dot to one-fourth of an inch. Some of the angiomas are visibly smooth and even, while others look like small papules. These lesions would often grow on the arms, legs, torso, and shoulders.
What causes cherry angioma?
There are no clear reasons why cherry angiomas would develop on the skin. However, it is mostly linked to the following:
- Age is one of the determining factors why cherry angiomas develop. Studies show that at the age of 30, the bright-red spot will start showing up and will increase over time.
- Pregnant and lactating women may also have cherry angioma due to the increase of prolactin, another contributing factor why cherry angiomas develop.
- Cherry angiomas are one of the common signs of liver problems or damage. In a 2015 study, one of the common indications of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFLD) was cherry angioma, where out of 340 participants with NFLD, 238 of them have cherry angioma.
- Individuals with high total cholesterol levels are likely to develop cherry angioma.
If you are worried about the bright cherry-like spots on your skin, you should consider visiting your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Is it okay to have the cherry angiomas removed?
Yes. You can have those cherry angiomas removed.
Cherry angiomas do not pose a threat. However, if you are asking “how can I remove a cherry angioma?” There are options to have it removed.
- Excision
Excision or shave excision is one of the most common invasive methods to remove cherry angioma. Using local anesthetic for pain, cherry angiomas are shaved off at the top of the skin and sutured down to close the wound.
- Cryotherapy
In this method, cherry angiomas are frozen using liquid nitrogen. The extreme cold will destroy the papule.
- Electrodesiccation surgery or electrocautery
This method involves burning the cherry angioma using cauterizing machine – an electrical needle-like instrument that produces heat.
Laser treatment
One of the common treatments for cherry angioma is using Pulsed Dye Laser (PLD). This is a quick and non-invasive procedure in removing cherry angioma. However, treatment like this can get expensive.
Final Thoughts
Cherry angioma is a common skin growth. It is non-cancerous and does not pose a threat. However, if you notice a sudden outbreak, you should consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
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