Cherry angioma is the sudden eruption of red cherry-like papules on skin. This is a kind of benign tumor. The following article provides information about the causes, treatments, and complications of this skin disorder.
Senile angiomas or Campbell De Morgan spots are the names for the same skin disorder, i.e., cherry angioma. This is a skin tumor of unknown origin in which cherry-red to purple-colored spots appear on skin. This is a disorder that commonly affects people after the age of 40.
Description
One may observe tiny vascular lesions on the skin that are made up of dilated capillaries on the surface of the skin. These cherry-red or purple bumps develop anywhere on the skin. They appear most commonly on the torso that has many eruptions of these vascular lesions. One may observe pinhead-sized cherry angiomas on the surface of the skin that do not protrude. Gradually, they grow about ¼th of an inch in size and look like dome-shaped, spongy bumps. If there are multiple adjoining senile angiomas, they form polypoid angioma. One should avoid puncturing these bumps, as they are made up of blood vessels and will bleed profusely if injured.
Cause
The reason why cherry angioma appear on the skin is unknown. One can develop senile angioma at any age, but it is more common in middle-aged people, over 40 years of age. Many times mustard gas, 2-butoxyethanol, bromides, and cyclosporine containing chemical compounds are considered as the causative agent if this condition.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for this condition; but, many people remove these papules surgically. The removal cost can range between USD 80 to USD 2000. There are three different procedures which can be performed to remove these papules. One of the procedure is unelectrosurgery. This is a minor surgical procedure, where a special electric needle-like instrument is used to get rid of senlie angioma by burning it.
The next procedure is cryotherapy, where the affected area is frozen with liquid nitrogen, and the last is laser vaporization. In the laser vaporization procedure, the affected area is hit with a beam of light which helps in removal of the cherry angioma. This is one of the safest techniques, as it causes no harm to the surrounding skin tissue.
Complications
Since there is no known cause for this condition, there are no preventive measures to avoid their appearance. It is a noncancerous skin lesion which is harmless. Its removal will not cause scarring of skin tissues.
One should speak to a dermatologist or medical health professional as he will be in a better position to help you. Consult a doctor immediately if you observe changes in the appearance or color of the skin lesions. This is a harmless lesion and you can live with it without any complications.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
