DEAR DR. GOTT: In my mid-40s, I started getting little red dots on my arms, legs and trunk. My doctor called them cherry angiomas. They are becoming quite numerous and are growing larger. Is this simply a cosmetic inconvenience or something significant?
DEAR READER: A cherry angioma is a benign growth composed of small dilated blood vessels that appears as a smooth red skin lesion — thus the name. On rare occasions, a dark brown/black color may be present, giving the potential appearance of a malignant melanoma. While there doesn’t appear to be any connection to race or the sex of an individual, light-skinned older people are more inclined to have them. Lesions can appear anywhere on the body but are commonly found on the trunk.
Treatment is recommended only when the lesions are undesirable from a cosmetic point of view. Options can include cryotherapy, curettage and electrodesiccation or shave excision.
If you haven’t already, see a dermatologist for a complete examination of the lesions to be certain there are no malignancies and to discuss if the possibility of removal is best for you. Most cherry angiomas do not require treatment.
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