Angiomas

Angiomas are clusters of tiny blood vessels that look like pink or red bumps on the skin.

Common types are:

Cherry angiomas.

These are bright, cherry red, smooth spots. They appear most often on the chest, belly, back, and upper legs. They may also be found on the face, neck, scalp, and arms. The size of the spots may vary from pinhead size to about the size of a pencil eraser. These growths become more common after age 30.

Spider angiomas.

These are raised, red spots that have red lines that branch out from the center. They may appear on the face, neck, upper chest, back, and upper arms. Children may have them on the hands.

Venous lakes.

These are blue or purple dome-shaped spots. They appear most often on the lip. But they can also be seen on the ear or other parts of the body. These growths are common in older people.

Cherry angiomas, spider angiomas, and venous lakes don't usually cause any symptoms. But they may bleed if scratched or injured.

Your doctor usually can tell if you have an angioma by looking at its size, shape, and color.

Angiomas usually don't need to be treated. But if you don't like the way they look, or if they cause problems, your doctor can remove them with surgery (electrocautery) or by freezing (cryotherapy) or burning them. They can also be removed with laser therapy, such as with a pulsed dye laser.

To care for an angioma:

• Keep the area clean and dry. Wash with a mild soap and warm (not hot) water. Don't scrub.
• Avoid irritating the area, and prevent infection.
  • Don't squeeze, scratch, or pick at the angioma. This could cause it to bleed and get infected. If it bleeds, cover the area with a clean pad and apply gentle pressure.
  • Keep fingernails trimmed to prevent scratching it.
  • Adjust clothing to avoid rubbing it.

If you don't like the way the angioma looks, you can use clothing or a special makeup, such as Dermablend, to cover it up.

If an angioma is bothering you or causing problems, talk to your doctor.