Cherry Angioma Removal Options And What's At Stake

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Have you been to your doctor due to a skin outbreak that concerned you and learned that you have cherry angiomas? If so, your doctor may have told you that you could visit a skin doctor if you wanted to get the lesions removed. Many cherry angiomas are harmless, and some people get them removed purely for cosmetic reasons. However, if you are concerned about the appearance of your cherry angiomas or getting a second opinion about the lesions, a dermatologist like one at Dermatology Surgery Center is a good resource to use. The following information will help you to better understand the options available to you. 

Laser Removal

More than one treatment may be required if laser removal is chosen. This is because large angiomas may need additional treatment to be completely obliterated. If you prefer to have one treatment, you may want to seek laser removal only if you have small cherry angiomas. After laser treatments angiomas may darken, but they gradually fade away over the course of a few weeks. 

Excision

This is a cutting or scraping option. The skin doctor will use surgical instruments to remove or scrape away the skin lesions from the skin. This option might not be ideal if you are a person whose skin is prone to scarring because of the cutting and abrasive technique used. 

Cryosurgery

This is a surgical option that involves freezing skin lesions and growths. A nitrogen solution is applied on the affected areas, which causes the growths or lesions to freeze. This makes them appear as scabs that can easily be peeled off of the skin. This is a viable alternative to laser removal of large lesions.

Electrocautery

This option involves using an electric needle to obliterate the blood vessels in the angioma. This option will leave a wound(s) that will need to be cared for until healed. When healed, you can expect the dead angioma(s) to peel away from your skin. This may not be your choice if you have issues with your skin healing properly because it may cause some scarring.

Keep in mind that cherry angiomas that appear at once could be a sign of a condition such as liver problems and should be reported to a dermatologist even if you have been told your cherry angiomas are not a health risk. If yours start to bleed, change in appearance, or cause itching or pain, they need to be reexamined. This is because it is possible that you may have a mix of angiomas and cancerous moles on your skin. 

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24 January 2017

Never Ignore an Unusual Skin Change

When I was a teenager, I loved sunbathing to keep a golden tan. My family had no history of skin cancer, so I thought my skin was "invincible" to sun damage. Years later, as an adult, I noticed an unusual patch of skin on my arm. I had no idea what it was, but thankfully, I made an appointment with my GP to get it checked out. She referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me with very early stage skin cancer that could be treatable with a simple cream. I was very lucky that the cream worked, but if I had waited to visit the dermatologist until my skin cancer was more advanced, I would have had to have surgery to remove it. I decided to start a blog to share my story and post tips about skin health. Please come back often and learn more about skin!