Cherry Angiomas, also known as Campbell de Morgan Blood Spots, after the nineteenth-century British surgeon Campbell De Morgan, who first noted and described them, are small lesions, benign blood tumours, with an abnormal proliferation of blood vessels.
Cherry angiomas are made up of clusters of capillaries at the surface of the skin, forming a small round papule. They range in colour from bright red to purple, and size from about smaller than a millimeter in diameter to over a centimeter. As they grow larger, they tend to expand in thickness and, if injured, they may bleed profusely.
Cherry angiomas are usually found on people aged 30 and older. The condition can affect individuals of all races and genders. Although the cause of the condition is not well understood, some studies show a genetic connection, which suggests that individuals with a positive family history are more likely to develop the condition. Also, exposure to certain chemicals, such as mustard gas, 2-butoxyethanol, bromides, and cyclosporine, has been associated with the development of cherry angiomas.
If you have a blood spot and notice any changes in its appearance, i.e. if it bleeds, changes size, shape or colour, or you notice a sudden eruption of blood spots on your body over a short period of time, your should talk to your doctor, as these could signal a developing problem, such as liver damage.
Campbell de Morgan or Cherry Angiomas
Generally, these lesions do not require treatment. However, as they tend to grow and become more established, they may be easily injured and prone to bleeding. If they are cosmetically unappealing or are subject to bleeding, angiomas may be removed by electrocautery, a process of destroying the tissue by drying up the blood vessels with an electric current delivered by a tiny probe. The treatment is very effective and usually only one treatment session is needed.