A cherry angioma is a small, bright red skin growth made up of a cluster of tiny blood vessels. These are the most common type of vascular skin growth in adults, and they’re completely benign. If you’ve noticed a new red dot on your skin that’s round, smooth, and about the size of a pinhead or pencil eraser, there’s a good chance you’re looking at one.
Cherry angiomas typically appear as dome-shaped or flat spots ranging from bright cherry red to a deeper purple. They can show up anywhere on the body but tend to favor the torso, upper arms, and shoulders. Most are quite small, but some grow to a few millimeters across. They start appearing around age 30 and multiply with time. An estimated 75% of people over 75 have them.
Why They Develop
The short answer is aging. Cherry angiomas form when small blood vessels in the skin proliferate and cluster together, creating a visible red bump. Exactly why this happens isn’t fully understood, but the process accelerates noticeably after age 40. Genetics play a role: if your parents had many cherry angiomas, you’re more likely to develop them too.
Hormonal changes, particularly during pregnancy, may contribute to their appearance. There’s also evidence linking prolonged chemical exposure to a sudden eruption of multiple angiomas. Two laboratory technicians who worked with brominated compounds for extended periods developed numerous cherry angiomas across their trunk and limbs, suggesting certain occupational exposures could be a trigger. Climate and sun exposure have been loosely associated as well, though neither is a proven cause.
How to Tell Them Apart From Skin Cancer
This is often the real question behind the search. A new red spot on your skin can be alarming, and cherry angiomas do share visual territory with a few concerning conditions, including amelanotic (non-pigmented) melanoma and nodular basal cell carcinoma.
The key differences come down to stability and uniformity. Cherry angiomas are stable in size once they form. They’re evenly colored throughout, not nodular or lumpy, and under magnification they show a clear pattern of separated vascular sections. Melanomas and basal cell carcinomas, by contrast, tend to grow over weeks or months, may have uneven coloring, and often look different from one visit to the next.
In rare cases, a cherry angioma can develop a blood clot inside it (thrombose), turning it darker and making it look more suspicious. When that happens, a biopsy can settle the question. As a general rule, any skin growth that changes rapidly in size, shape, or color deserves a closer look from a dermatologist, even if it turns out to be harmless.
When They Need Treatment
Cherry angiomas don’t require treatment. Most people who have them removed do so for cosmetic reasons or because a spot sits in a location where it gets repeatedly bumped or irritated. Angiomas that get caught on clothing or nicked while shaving can bleed quite a bit for their size, since they’re packed with blood vessels. If a traumatized angioma keeps bleeding or becomes infected, removal is a practical solution.
For the vast majority of people, the only thing needed is reassurance that these spots are not cancerous and won’t become cancerous.
Removal Options
Three methods are commonly used to remove cherry angiomas, and all are performed as quick outpatient procedures.
- Electrodesiccation uses a small electric needle to generate heat, which destroys the growth and cauterizes the site simultaneously. The built-in cauterization helps control bleeding and can speed healing.
- Cryotherapy involves applying a dab of liquid nitrogen directly to the angioma. The freezing destroys the cells as they thaw. Larger spots may need more than one application.
- Laser therapy targets the red pigment of the angioma with a calibrated light wavelength, allowing precise destruction of the growth while sparing surrounding skin. Of the three methods, laser treatment generally causes the least swelling, irritation, and scarring.
All three methods are effective, but none are perfect. Removal can leave a small scar, and this happens frequently enough that it’s worth factoring into your decision if the spot is in a visible area. Cherry angiomas can also return after removal, so a treated spot may eventually reappear.
Because cherry angiomas are considered cosmetic rather than medically necessary in most cases, insurance typically does not cover removal. If you’re removing one because of repeated bleeding or infection, that may qualify differently, so it’s worth checking with your insurer.
Avoiding DIY Removal
Cherry angiomas are dense with blood vessels, which makes them bleed heavily when cut or punctured. Attempting to scrape, burn, or freeze one off at home carries real risks: uncontrolled bleeding, infection, and scarring that’s worse than what a dermatologist would leave behind. The procedures used in a clinic are quick, low-pain, and designed specifically to handle the bleeding issue. There’s no meaningful advantage to doing this yourself.