Cherry Angioma Removal in Suwon: Can Red Spots on the Body Be Removed with Lasers?
If small, vivid red spots have been appearing one by one on your chest, abdomen, or arms and they bother you, it is worth first checking whether they are cherry angiomas. A cherry angioma is a benign vascular lesion in which capillaries in the shallow layer of the skin dilate and cluster into a small lump; although its name includes the word for a growth, it has nothing to do with cancer.
Cherry angioma removal proceeds by coagulating the dilated blood vessels with a vascular laser at a wavelength absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, and then caring for the skin while the body absorbs the coagulated vessels. At our Suwon clinic, we first look at the color, size, and height of the spots during the consultation, distinguish them from other vascular lesions, and then decide how many to treat and where.
This article walks through why cherry angiomas develop, how to tell them apart from similar red spots, the vascular laser removal process, recovery and care, and side effects.
Key Points on Cherry Angiomas
- A cherry angioma is a lesion of clustered dilated capillaries, and they tend to increase in number with age.
- They look similar to spider angiomas, venous lakes on the lips, and angiokeratomas, so they are first distinguished through an examination.
- Vascular lasers work by converting light absorbed by hemoglobin into heat to coagulate dilated blood vessels.
- Depending on size and depth, treatment may be split into several sessions spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart.
Why do cherry angiomas develop?
A cherry angioma is a condition in which fine blood vessels in the upper dermis dilate and form a small lump. It is closer to a lesion of dilated capillaries than a tumor of newly growing blood vessels; at first it looks like a red dot the size of a pinpoint, and over time it may rise into a dome shape.
The exact cause has not been identified. Because they increase in number with age, they are also called senile angiomas, and they often start appearing one by one on the trunk and arms after one's 30s. Constitution, genetics, and hormonal changes are known to be involved.
They are not lesions that cause health problems, so they do not necessarily need to be removed. However, they do not go away on their own and bleed easily when scratched by clothing or fingernails, so people consider removal when they are in noticeable places or often get injured.
How can cherry angiomas be told apart from other red spots?
There are various vascular lesions that look red or bluish, and depending on the type, they differ in how they respond to lasers and how they recur. The table below shows the criteria we look at together during the examination.
| Category | Shape and color | Common locations | When pressed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry angioma | Round red spot with clear borders, sometimes raised | Chest, abdomen, back, arms | Color does not fade easily |
| Spider angioma | Fine blood vessels radiate out from a central red dot | Face, neck, chest | Radiating vessels fade when the center is pressed |
| Venous lake | Dark bluish lump | Lower lip, ears | Color fades |
| Angiokeratoma | Dark red bump with a hard, rough surface | Legs, trunk | Color does not fade easily |
Spots that are asymmetrical, grow in a short period, or bleed repeatedly may not be vascular lesions. Such spots are not removed with lasers right away; we first decide whether a biopsy is needed.
How is cherry angioma removal performed?
How Vascular Lasers Remove Them
Vascular lasers make use of the way hemoglobin in the blood readily absorbs light of a specific wavelength. When the absorbed light turns into heat, the dilated blood vessels coagulate, and the coagulated vessels are absorbed by the body over several weeks. The surrounding skin absorbs less of this wavelength, so the heat concentrates where the spot is.
Excel V Plus is a laser that uses two wavelengths, 532nm and 1064nm. The 532nm wavelength is chosen to reach red vessels in the shallow layer, and the 1064nm wavelength to reach slightly deeper and thicker vessels. Small, flat cherry angiomas and large, raised ones need different numbers of sessions, and when there are many, we treat a few first to check the skin's reaction before proceeding with the rest.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Self-Cleansing
- Treatment
- Finishing Care
The treatment takes about 10 minutes or less, and you can return to daily life right after. If the color does not fade enough in one session, we check again at 3- to 4-week intervals and treat the remaining areas, and vascular and pigmented lesions are sometimes treated over about 3 to 5 sessions.
See Excel V Plus treatment details
Recovery and Care After Cherry Angioma Laser
- After treatment of vascular lesions, there may be temporary swelling, which usually subsides in about 1 to 2 days.
- Wash gently with lukewarm water, and if scabs form, do not force them off.
- Apply repair cream and moisturizing cream often so the skin does not dry out.
- Apply sunscreen when you go out to reduce hyperpigmentation.
- Avoid saunas and Korean bathhouses while receiving vascular laser treatment.
Right after treatment, the spot may become darker or turn purplish, which is a reaction caused by the blood vessels coagulating. The color then changes to brown and gradually fades, and the trunk and limbs tend to recover more slowly than the face. Apart from the treated spots, new cherry angiomas may appear elsewhere, so it is best to have new spots checked while they are small.
Side Effects and Precautions for Cherry Angioma Lasers
Right after treatment, redness, swelling, and tingling occur, and purple bruising may remain on the treated area for a while. Most of these are reactions that appear during the recovery process, and recovery speed and results vary from person to person.
Rarely, blisters, hyperpigmentation after scabbing, white marks from loss of pigment, or small scars can occur. If you have recently tanned or are taking medication that makes you sensitive to light, the risk of burns and hyperpigmentation increases, so please be sure to tell us before treatment. Venous lakes on the lips sometimes come back in the same spot. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please let us know before treatment.
If large blisters form, or if pain and oozing keep increasing for several days, do not touch the area and contact the clinic right away.
What should be checked before cherry angioma removal?
If This Sounds Like You, Start with an Examination
- Round red spots on my trunk or arms have increased over the past few years.
- The red spots bleed when scratched by clothing or fingernails.
- A dark bluish lump has formed on my lip, and its color fades when I press it.
- A red spot has an irregular shape or has recently grown quickly.
If two or more of these apply, it is best to first check what kind of vascular lesion it is before laser treatment. Whether to have treatment, which method to use, and how wide an area to cover are decided together in consultation after the medical team examines you.
In short, the key with cherry angiomas is to first distinguish them from other red spots, treat them in sessions suited to their size and depth, and minimize irritation during recovery.
FAQ
Q. Is it okay to just leave cherry angiomas alone?
A. It is a benign lesion that does not harm your health, so it is fine to leave it alone. However, if it grows larger or often bleeds from being scratched, removal can be considered, and for spots with an irregular shape or that grow quickly, please get examined first.
Q. Can I remove a cherry angioma at home with a needle?
A. Because it is a lesion of clustered blood vessels, it bleeds more than expected, and unsterilized tools can cause infection and scarring. Please do not remove it at home; get examined to determine what kind of vascular lesion it is, and then decide on the treatment method.
Q. Does a cherry angioma go away with a single laser session?
A. It depends on size and depth. Small, flat cherry angiomas are checked after one or two sessions, while large, raised ones are treated over several sessions at 3- to 4-week intervals. The number of sessions needed varies from person to person and is decided after the examination.
Q. Are blue dots on the lips treated with the same laser?
A. A dark bluish lump on the lower lip may be a venous lake, a dilated vein, so we first distinguish it through an examination and consider whether a vascular laser can be used. Because it is a lesion with thick blood vessels, we watch its progress over several days after treatment and discuss whether additional sessions are needed.
Q. Do cherry angiomas come back after treatment?
A. Apart from the treated spots, new cherry angiomas may appear elsewhere with age. If you have new spots examined while they are still small, the treatment area can be kept small, so please have them checked early when you notice more spots.
Q. How can I find out the cost of cherry angioma removal?
A. The cost depends on the number and size of the spots to be treated and the number of sessions. We confirm during your consultation how many spots on your trunk and arms are to be treated, and then explain the cost. You can also check the treatment items on our treatment information page.
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.