How To Get Rid Of Cherry Angiomas: Medical Treatment Options

Medical News Today

• Health Conditions

  Health Conditions

  • Alzheimer's & Dementia
  • Anxiety
  • Asthma & Allergies
  • Atopic Dermatitis
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • COVID-19
  • Diabetes
  • Endometriosis
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Exercise & Fitness
  • Eye Health
  • Headache & Migraine
  • Health Equity
  • HIV & AIDS
  • Human Biology
  • Leukemia
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Nutrition
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Psoriasis
  • Sexual Health
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Women's Health
• Health Products

  Health Products

  All
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Vitamins & Supplements
  • CBD
  • Sleep
  • Mental Health
  • At-Home Testing
  • Men’s Health
  • Women’s Health
• Discover

  News

  • Latest News
  • Medicare 2026 Costs

  Original Series

  • Medical Myths
  • Honest Nutrition
  • Through My Eyes
  • New Normal Health

  Podcasts

  All
  • Artificial sweeteners and brain aging: What we know so far
  • Does the Mediterranean diet hold the key to longevity?
  • AMA: Registered dietitian answers 5 key questions about fiber and weight loss
  • Health misinformation and disinformation: How to avoid it
  • Brain health, sleep, diet: 3 health resolutions for 2025
  • 5 things everyone should know about menopause
• Tools

  General Health

  • Drugs A-Z
  • Health Hubs
  • Newsletter
  • Medicare Plans by State

  Health Tools

  • Find a Doctor
  • BMI Calculators and Charts
  • Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide
  • Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide
  • Sleep Calculator

  Quizzes

  • RA Myths vs Facts
  • Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction
• Connect

  About Medical News Today

  • Who We Are
  • Our Editorial Process
  • Content Integrity
  • Conscious Language

  Find Community

  • Bezzy Breast Cancer
  • Bezzy MS
  • Bezzy Migraine
  • Bezzy Psoriasis

  Follow Us

SubscribeHow to get rid of cherry angiomasMedically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD — Written by Veronica Zambon on December 22, 2020

• Pictures
• What are they?
• Home remedies
• Treatments
• Living with them
• Summary

Cherry angiomas are common, harmless spots on the skin. It is not necessary to remove them. However, it is possible to remove them if a person wishes, by using cauterization or cryosurgery.

This article discusses what cherry angiomas are, the medical treatments available to remove them, and how to live with these spots.

Pictures of cherry angiomas

What are cherry angiomas?

Cherry angiomas are common, harmless spots on the skin.

These spots are usually bright red domes that are up to 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) in diameter. They often appear on the trunk of the body and on the upper limbs. They appear less frequently on the hands, feet, and face.

Researchers do not know what causes cherry angiomas, but the following factors may play a part in their development:

• aging
• genetic mutations
• UV exposure
• pregnancy
• certain medications, such as cyclosporine, or hormones
• malignancy (in the case of eruptive angiomatosis)
• human herpesvirus-8 (in the case of eruptive angiomatosis)

Cherry angiomas tend to be asymptomatic, which means that they simply exist on the skin without causing any other effects.

However, the spots may bleed if a person picks at them or they undergo any other form of trauma.

Home remedies

There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that home remedies are effective at removing cherry angiomas. People should not try to remove them by cutting them off the skin. They should contact a doctor instead.

Although cherry angiomas are not harmful, it is always best to contact a doctor to get a professional diagnosis. This is because cherry angiomas can resemble amelanotic melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer.

It is important to take good care of the skin to prevent any potentially dangerous skin conditions from developing.

Medical treatment and aftercare

It is not medically necessary to remove cherry angiomas. However, a person may wish to remove them for cosmetic reasons. There are several options for doing this.

For example, a doctor may electrocauterize a small cherry angioma. During this process, an electric needle burns away and destroys the blood vessels.

If the angioma is large, the doctor may shave off the spot and electrocauterize the skin beneath.

Alternatively, they may recommend cryosurgery or CO2 laser surgery. Cryosurgery refers to when a doctor applies liquid nitrogen to the spot to freeze it off. Laser surgery removes the spot with a beam of light.

Removing a cherry angioma through medical treatment may lead to scarring. It is important to discuss any removal techniques with a qualified doctor to ensure that removing any spots is more beneficial to a person than potential scarring.

To reduce the risk of scarring, it is important to follow the advice of the doctor who performs the removal.

Living with cherry angiomas

Although researchers do not know exactly what causes cherry angiomas, avoiding certain treatments and chemicals may reduce the likelihood of developing them.

For example, people should try to avoid topical nitrogen mustard therapy and using bromides on the skin.

It is also important to protect the skin from the sun. Although cherry angiomas are harmless, they may look similar to a form of skin cancer. When people expose their skin to the sun, it is important to wear:

• lightweight clothing
• long sleeved shirts and pants
• sunglasses that offer UV protection
• a wide-brimmed hat
• shoes that cover the feet
• sunscreen on all bare skin

People should also wear broad-spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. People should wear sunscreen whenever they are outside, even if it is cloudy and there is little to no visible sun.

It is also important to reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours and to be extra careful in environments with surfaces that reflect the sun, such as near water, snow, or sand.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend the following self-care strategies to protect aging skin and help reduce discomfort:

• Avoid using bar soap when bathing and use water that is warm, not hot.
• Use a soft cloth to wash the skin, and when patting the skin dry, leave a little moisture on it.
• Use a fragrance-free moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing.
• Use a humidifier if the skin feels dry, as heating and air conditioning can take moisture away from the air.
• Wear gloves when doing housework and gardening, as chemicals and sunlight may irritate the skin.
• Try to avoid using scented products, as these can irritate the skin.
• Go for regular checkups with a dermatologist, as the risk of skin cancer increases as people age, according to the AAD.

Summary

Cherry angiomas are common, harmless spots. It is not necessary to remove them.

However, if a person does want to remove these spots, it is important to visit a qualified doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that people can treat or remove cherry angiomas with home remedies.

It is also very important to take care of the skin and to avoid sun exposure, especially as people age. People can try various self-care strategies to protect their skin from the environment.

 

• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
• Seniors / Aging

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• How to care for your skin in your 60s and 70s. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-in-your-60s-and-70s
• Prevent skin cancer. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/prevent/how#
• Qadeer, H. A., et al. (2020). Cherry hemangioma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563207/
• Sun protection. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection
• What to wear to protect your skin from the sun. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/what-to-wear-protect-skin-from-sun

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD — Written by Veronica Zambon on December 22, 2020

Latest news

• AI platform and blood test may better predict diabetes risk
• Shingles vaccine may help slow biological aging, study finds
• Text reminders may help heart failure patients avoid readmission
• Obesity may be a key risk factor for vascular dementia, study says
• Which types of physical activity may help prolong life span?

Related Coverage

• What to know about cherry angiomas

  Angiomas are benign tumors, and cherry angiomas are the most common type. They are made up of small blood vessels and may look like moles. Cherry…

  READ MORE
• All you need to know about external hemangiomasMedically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP

  External hemangiomas are birthmarks that appear when extra blood vessels develop. They are a type of benign tumor. Most people only develop one, and…

  READ MORE
• Can I remove a mole at home?

  Some people use home remedies to get rid of their moles. However, these remedies have not been proven to be safe or effective. Instead, people should…

  READ MORE
• Anti-cellulite massage: Does it work?Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP

  Does anti-cellulite massage work? Learn what the research says about massage treatments and which therapies offer results.

  READ MORE
• Azelaic acid vs. vitamin C: Which is right for you?

  Find out how azelaic acid and vitamin C compare, including which is better to treat acne and brighten the skin, and how to use these products together.

  READ MORE