Have you ever noticed small red spots appearing on your skin and wondered whether they are something to worry about? Red spots can have many different causes. Some are completely harmless, while others may need medical attention.
What Are Cherry Angiomas?
Cherry angiomas are small growths made up of tiny blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. They typically appear as bright-red, reddish-purple, or dark-red spots. They may initially be flat but can gradually become slightly raised.
They commonly occur on areas such as:
- Chest and abdomen
- Back
- Arms
- Shoulders
Cherry angiomas become increasingly common with age. They are usually benign, meaning they are not skin cancer and generally don’t pose a health risk.
Why Do These Red Spots Appear?
The exact reason cherry angiomas develop isn’t completely understood. Age and genetic factors appear to play a role. Some people develop only a few, while others gradually develop many over the years.
They can occasionally become irritated by clothing, scratching, or shaving and may bleed if injured.
Could the Spots Be Something Else?
Not every red spot is a cherry angioma. Similar-looking marks can occur because of several other conditions.
Folliculitis can produce red, pimple-like spots around hair follicles. Insect bites may be red and itchy, while petechiae are tiny areas of bleeding underneath the skin that generally don’t disappear when pressure is applied.
This distinction is important because petechiae, particularly when they suddenly appear in large numbers, can sometimes be associated with problems that require medical evaluation.
A Simple Blanching Test
One useful observation is whether the spot changes when you gently press on it.
If a red spot temporarily becomes lighter when pressed and then returns to its original color, this suggests that blood within superficial vessels may be contributing to its appearance.
If the spot doesn’t become lighter with pressure, it may represent blood beneath the skin rather than dilated surface blood vessels. This isn’t enough to diagnose the cause, but it is useful information to tell your doctor.
Do Red Spots Need Treatment?
If the spots are cherry angiomas and aren’t causing any problems, treatment usually isn’t necessary.
For people who want them removed because of appearance or because they repeatedly become irritated or bleed, a dermatologist can use procedures such as:
- Electrocautery/electrodesiccation
- Laser treatment
- Cryotherapy in selected cases
These procedures should be performed by a qualified medical professional. Don’t cut, puncture, burn, or try to remove the spots yourself, as this can cause significant bleeding, infection, or scarring.
When Should You See a Doctor?
It’s a good idea to have new or unusual red spots examined if:
- They appeared suddenly and you’re developing many of them.
- They don’t fade when pressed.
- You’re also experiencing unexplained bruising or bleeding.
- You have a fever or feel unusually unwell.
- A particular spot is rapidly growing or changing.
- A spot repeatedly bleeds without being injured.
- It develops an unusual shape, color, crust, or ulceration.
Final Thoughts
The red spots shown in the photograph appear compatible with benign vascular spots such as cherry angiomas, particularly the larger, round, sharply defined lesions. Nevertheless, an image cannot provide a definitive diagnosis.