Skin Diseases

Angiomas are benign tumors that are made up of small blood vessels. They usually appear at or near the surface of the skin. Angiomas may appear anywhere on the body, and aren’t considered dangerous depending on their location. However, they may be present as symptoms of another more serious disorder, such as cirrhosis. When they are removed, it is generally for cosmetic reasons.

Types of Angioma:

Cherry Angioma

• Cherry angioma is the most common kind of angioma. It is also called a Senile angioma or Campbell de Morgan spot, after the nineteenth century British surgeon Campbell De Morgan who first noted and described them.
• These are made up of clusters of tiny capillaries at the surface of the skin, and range in color from bright red to purple. When they first develop, they may only be a few millimeters across, but sometimes grow to a centimeter or more in diameter. As they grow larger, they tend to expand in thickness, and may take on the raised and rounded shape of a dome. Because the blood vessels comprising the angioma are so close to the skin’s surface, cherry angiomas may bleed profusely if they are injured.

Cherry Angioma treatment

• On the rare occasions that they require removal, tradionally cryosurgery or electrosurgery has been used. More recently laser treatment has also been used.

Spinder Angioma

• A spider angioma ( nevus araneus, spider nevus, or vascular spider) is a type of angioma found slightly below the skin’s surface, often containing a central red spot and reddish extensions which radiate outwards like a spider’s web. They are common and benign, present in around 10-15% of healthy adults and young children.
• Spider angiomas are commonly found on the face, neck, upper part of the trunk and arms. They may also be present on the backs of the hands and fingers in young children. Most, however, are a result of liver disease.
• Many pregnant women, or women using hormonal contraception, have spider angiomas. People who have significant hepatic disease also show many spider angiomas, as they are not making sufficient of coagulation factors. About 33% of patients with cirrhosis have spider angiomas. As such, microhemorrhages may be observed as spider angiomas.

Spider Angioma Treatment

• Spider angiomas are asymptomatic and usually resolve spontaneously. This is common in the case of children, although they may take several years to disappear. If the spider angiomas are associated with pregnancy, they may resolve after childbirth. In women taking oral contraceptives, they may resolve after stopping these contraceptives. The spider angiomas associated with liver disease may resolve when liver function increases or when a liver transplant is performed.
• For spider angiomas on the face, techniques such as electrodesiccation and laser treatment can be used to remove the lesion. There is a small risk of a scar, although the results are generally good. Spider angiomas can recur after treatment.

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