Cherry Angioma (red mole)

Skin growths known as red moles or cherry angiomas can appear on any part of the body. Senile angiomas and Campbell de Morgan spots are other names for them.

Angiomas are a common skin growth that can appear on any part of your body and are most common in adults over 30. Angiomas have a reddish hue because of the ruptured blood vessels inside. There is no need to worry about cherry angiomas unless they start bleeding or change shape and colour.

Cherry Angioma Symptoms

Typically, angiomas are small, brilliant red, circular or oval, and range in size from a pinpoint to roughly half of a centimetre. Depending on the type of angioma, it may appear smooth or slightly elevated.

Angiomas get their name because of their appearance. The dilated capillaries are responsible for the bright red colour. 

Although they are commonly known as being red in colour, they can come in various colours, including blue and purple. In general, they do not blanch or turn white under pressure.

Anywhere on the body can develop these growths, but the chest, stomach, and back are the most common locations for angiomas. In many cases, cherry angiomas appear in clusters.

Scratching, rubbing, or cutting the angioma might cause bleeding.

Causes

Some people may be more susceptible to developing red moles because of a genetic component. Pregnancy, chemical exposure, medical problems, and climate have also been implicated in their emergence.

Angiomas and ageing also appear to be linked, at least in some instances. They usually occur around the age of 30 and seem to grow in size and number with age.

cherry angioma

Treatment

Angiomas are usually treated cosmetically, as they pose no serious health risks.

The red moles can be treated in four ways:

Cryopen involves the cherry angioma being frozen with liquid nitrogen to destroy the growth by the extreme cold. This method is well-known for being a quick and straightforward procedure.

Cryosurgery is non-invasive and usually only requires one treatment session. The liquid nitrogen is sprayed for about 10 seconds. After that, the wound doesn’t require much attention.

There’s no risk of infection and no need for post-procedure care when using the CryoPen to eliminate the angiomas.

After Treatment

Often, the region will get red and swell, but it will subside within a few hours.

Over 2 to 4 weeks, the angioma will decrease and eventually disappear. Larger ones will shrink in size, but they may dry out and develop a scab.

When the scab heals, it will disappear or shrink in size and may require additional treatment.

Scratching or picking the treated area is not recommended after a cryotherapy treatment. If you do this, the area will take longer to heal and may even cause damage to the skin due to prolonged healing.

Scrubs should not be used on the area, as they will damage the skin’s surface.

How to prevent Cherry Angiomas from coming back:

Since the causes of cherry angiomas are largely unknown, it is difficult to advise on how to prevent new cherry angiomas from appearing.

Though experts believe they tend to be genetic, age contributes heavily, as research has shown that cherry angiomas increase in number and size after 40 years of age.