Could these tiny red spots on my face and limbs be due to cherry angiomas? (photos)

Doctor's Answers 2

Thank you for the question.

Cherry aniogmas are small growths or proliferation of blood vessels. They do appear as you grow older, and is more common in the elderly.

However, it is not uncommon to have a few lesions at an earlier age. Some people are more prone to developing the cherry angiomas, and may have multiple lesions.

Thankfully, they are harmless and not cancerous and do not pose a health problem. However, it is difficult to prevent new lesions from appearing.

They can be left alone and treatment is not necessary. If you do find them to be burdensome, they can be removed by electro-surgical ablation or laser for cosmetic reasons.

Campbell de Morgan spots, also known as cherry angiomas, are common, harmless red spots that tend to appear in middle to older age individuals. They are formed by proliferating, dilated small blood vessels. These do not need to be treated unless it is for cosmetic reasons. They do tend to bleed quite a lot when poked of scratched at.

Treatment options include electrocautery or lasers to effectively close off the blood vessel.

None of these will ever turn cancerous or lead to any potential long term effects on your health. It is possible to develop new ones though.

Similar Questions

Is it possible for a cherry angioma to develop into a skin cancer?

Cherry angiomas are benign prolieration of blood vessels and do not develop into cancer. They usually do not bleed easily unless thay are traumatized. It is also unusual for cherry angiomas to be painful when pressed. Another cause of a vascular bump that bleeds easily is a pyogenic granuloma. This may develop following trauma to the skin. Cherry angiomas usually do not require treatment. However, if it continues to bleed and is painful, you should consider visiting your dermatologist or doctor to get it checked out. They can easily be removed by electrosurgical ablation.

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Answered By

Dr Colin Theng

Dermatologist

How long does pityriasis rosea take to clear up?

Thanks for the question. Pityriasis rosea is a condition that typically presents with scattered red rashes on the trunk and arms and thighs which may be scaly. The face is often spared in this condition. There is a herald patch, often a larger patch that appears before the rest of the rashes, but this is not seen in all cases of pityriasis rosea. The face is also a very unusual site to get the herald patch. So overall, it is really difficult to comment if your rash is truly pityriasis rosea without seeing your rashes.

Photo of Dr Colin Theng

Answered By

Dr Colin Theng

Dermatologist

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