Cherry Angioma - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Cherry Angioma is a cherry-red to purple colored benign skin tumor also called a Senile angioma . They can occur almost anywhere on the body but usually develop on the trunk. As they grow larger, they tend to expand in thickness, and may take on the raised and rounded shape of a dome and the blood vessels comprising the angioma are so close to the skin's surface that cherry angiomas may bleed profusely if they are injured. Cherry angiomas are the most common vascular lesions to appear on human skin. They can occur anywhere on the skin but mainly are found on the torso. One can suffer from cherry angioma at any point of life but mostly they occur after the age of forty. Although they are painless and harmless but one would like to get rid of them for cosmetic reasons. According to the researches conducted it has been found out that more than 70 percent of people of age 70 and above suffer from cherry angioma. The cherry-red "bumps" develop alone or in groups, most often on the torso and frequently on the face, scalp, neck, arms and legs.

Causes of Cherry Angioma

Angiomas are benign , fairly common skin growths that vary in size. They can occur almost anywhere on the body but usually develop on the trunk. The exect cause is unknown. They are most common after age 40. Although painless and harmless, cherry angiomas may bleed profusely if injured.

Find common causes and risk factors of Cherry Angioma :

• The cause of the Cherry Angioma is unknown.

Signs and Symptoms of Cherry Angioma

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Smooth.
• Bright red.
• Small -- pinhead size to about 1/4 inch in diameter.

Treatment for Cherry Angioma

The most common procedures used are electrosurgery a minor surgical procedure during where a special electrical needle-like instrument is used to remove the angioma. The other procedure to get rid of cherry angioma is cryotherapy under which the affected area is frozen with liquid nitrogen and the lesion is removed. Another method of getting rid of cherry angioma is laser vaporization under which an intense beam of light is used for removing the angioma. This technique results in minimum harm to the surrounding skin tissue. Until and unless the lesions are large, one can expect excellent cosmetic results. It is not necessary to treat cherry angioma but a treatment may be required only if they are cosmetically displeasing or prone to bleeding. A dermatologist can recommend the desired treatment.

Treatment may include :

• Cryotherapy - freezing the affected area with liquid nitrogen.
• Laser vaporization.
• Electrosurgery - a minor surgical procedure during where a special electrical needle-like instrument is used to remove the angioma .