Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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Key Takeaways
- Cherry angiomas are benign vascular growths requiring professional evaluation for proper treatment
- Multiple factors contribute to their development, including genetics, age, and hormonal changes
- Removal here is by electrocautery, the usual choice, or vascular laser in selected cases
- Prevention strategies focus on maintaining skin health and protecting against environmental damage
- Treatment at London Skin Clinic involves customised approaches with minimal recovery time
- Proper aftercare ensures optimal healing and long-lasting results
Understanding Cherry Angiomas: Definition and Characteristics
Cherry angiomas, also known as Campbell de Morgan spots, are common benign skin growths that appear as bright red, circular or oval-shaped spots on the skin. These distinctive lesions develop when small blood vessels cluster together, creating a raised or smooth dome-shaped appearance that can range from 1-5 millimetres in diameter learn more about pricing.
These vascular growths typically appear on the trunk of the body, particularly the torso, but can also develop on the arms, legs, and shoulders. While they most commonly emerge after age 30, cherry angiomas can appear at any age. The colour may vary from bright cherry red to deep purple, depending on the depth of the blood vessels involved.
Normal cherry angiomas maintain a consistent size and shape over time. However, certain characteristics should prompt medical evaluation, including irregular borders, rapid growth, bleeding without trauma, or significant colour changes. These features, while rare, may indicate other vascular conditions requiring professional assessment.
What Causes Cherry Angiomas to Develop?
The exact cause of cherry angiomas remains not fully understood, but research has identified several contributing factors. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, with family history often indicating increased likelihood of development. The proliferation of these vascular lesions typically accelerates with age, as the body’s ability to regulate blood vessel growth changes.
Hormonal fluctuations significantly influence cherry angioma development, particularly during pregnancy, when elevated levels of oestrogen and progesterone can trigger their formation. Environmental factors, including climate and chemical exposure, may also contribute to their emergence.
Research suggests that certain molecular pathways involving the EICA gene mutation contribute to the formation of cherry angiomas. This genetic component explains why some individuals are more susceptible to developing multiple lesions throughout their lifetime.
Do They Signal an Underlying Condition?
Cherry angiomas are benign, and in the ordinary case they signal nothing beyond age and genetics. The liver-disease claim that dominates this topic online belongs to a different lesion: the spider naevus, which has a central feeding vessel with branches radiating outwards and blanches from the centre when pressed. The two are routinely confused, and that confusion is the origin of most of the alarm attached to cherry angiomas.
What does deserve attention is not the number of lesions but the behaviour of a single one. A red lesion that is growing over weeks, bleeding without being knocked, changing colour or crusting, or that looks different from your others should be examined before anything destroys it — because a pyogenic granuloma or, uncommonly, an amelanotic melanoma can also present as a red bump. Separately, any unexplained weight loss or persistent fatigue is worth raising with your GP on its own account, independently of your skin.
The factors that genuinely track with carrying more of them are age above all, pregnancy, and inherited characteristics such as fair skin and family colouring. Chemical exposures appear in case reports describing unusual occupational or historical circumstances; they do not explain the ordinary case. We set this out in full in what the genetics actually show.
Treatment Options for Cherry Angiomas
Modern dermatology offers several effective methods for cherry angioma removal. Laser therapy, particularly using pulsed dye or Nd:YAG lasers, stands as the gold standard treatment. These precise instruments target the blood vessels within the angioma while preserving surrounding tissue, resulting in minimal scarring and optimal cosmetic outcomes.
Electrocauterization provides another reliable option, using controlled electrical current to seal off blood vessels and remove the lesion. This technique proves particularly effective for smaller angiomas but may require local anaesthesia.
Cryotherapy and shave removal are often listed elsewhere as cherry angioma treatments. Neither is used here. A lesion is sometimes shaved so the tissue can be sent for examination, but that is a diagnostic step taken when the diagnosis is in doubt rather than a way of treating a cherry angioma.
Natural Remedies and Prevention: What Is Actually Known
Nothing applied to the skin removes a cherry angioma. The lesion is a cluster of dilated blood vessels sitting beneath the surface, so a cream, oil or acid has no route to it — and the ones that do reach it, such as apple cider vinegar, work by burning the skin above it. That risks a scar and a pigment change in exchange for a lesion that is still there.
There is no established way to prevent them either. Cherry angiomas arise from mutations acquired within the skin over time; they become more common with age and often increase during pregnancy. Diet, antioxidants, supplements, exercise, circulation and skincare routines have no evidence behind them as preventives, and pages listing them are filling a gap rather than reporting a finding.
Sun protection is worth doing for reasons that matter a great deal — it lowers skin cancer risk and reduces photoageing — but preventing cherry angiomas is not among them. The honest position is that you cannot stop them forming, which is also why removal treats the lesions you have rather than the tendency behind them. We set out what the evidence does and does not support in what a sudden crop means and what the genetics show.
Professional Removal Process at London Skin Clinic
At London Skin Clinic, cherry angioma removal begins with a comprehensive consultation to assess the lesions and determine the most appropriate treatment approach. Our specialists evaluate factors such as lesion size
Treatment preparation involves cleansing the area and applying topical anaesthetic if required. For laser treatments, protective eyewear and cooling systems ensure patient comfort and safety throughout the procedure. Our state-of-the-art facilities utilise the latest technology for precise and effective removal
The procedure typically takes 15-30 minutes, depending on the number and size of lesions being treated. Our experienced practitioners ensure minimal discomfort while achieving optimal results through carefully controlled treatment parameters learn more about pricing.
The procedure typically takes 15-30 minutes, depending on the number and size of lesions being treated. Our experienced practitioners ensure minimal discomfort while achieving optimal results through carefully controlled treatment parameters.
Recovery and Aftercare Guidelines
Post-treatment recovery typically progresses smoothly with proper care. Treated areas may appear slightly red or swollen initially, with these effects typically subsiding within 24-48 hours. The healing process continues over several days as the treated angiomas gradually fade.
Aftercare instructions include avoiding direct sun exposure, applying prescribed healing products, and keeping the treated area clean and protected. Patients should avoid strenuous exercise and heat exposure for the first 48 hours post-treatment.
Follow-up appointments allow our specialists to monitor healing progress and address any concerns. Most patients achieve optimal results within 2-4 weeks, though individual healing times may vary. Additional treatments may be recommended for optimal outcomes in cases of multiple or resistant lesions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cherry angiomas be removed for good?
A completely treated lesion does not return, because the cluster of vessels that formed it has been eliminated. New cherry angiomas do form elsewhere over the following years, driven by age and genetics, and no treatment changes that tendency.
Are there effective natural treatments for cherry angiomas?
No. Nothing applied to the skin removes a cherry angioma, because the lesion is a cluster of blood vessels sitting beneath the surface. Claims that diet, supplements or topical remedies clear or prevent them have no supporting evidence.
How can I prevent cherry angiomas from developing?
There is no established way to prevent them. They arise from mutations acquired in the skin over time, and become more common with age. Sun protection is worthwhile for other reasons, but it is not a way of preventing cherry angiomas.
Do cherry angiomas indicate an underlying medical condition?
Usually not. The liver-disease association belongs to the spider naevus, a different lesion with a central feeding vessel and radiating branches, and the two are frequently confused. Cherry angiomas increase with age and during pregnancy. What does warrant assessment is a single lesion that is growing, bleeding without being knocked, or looks different from your others.
How long does the treated area take to heal?
The surface usually settles over two to four weeks, with the initial redness easing within the first few days. How visible the site remains after that varies with the lesion, the method used and your skin.
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