Angiomas and hemangiomas are non-cancerous vascular
lesions made up of small, overgrown blood vessels. Cherry angiomas, the most
common type in adults, are bright red to purple dome-shaped papules that
often increase with age and sun exposure. They usually appear on the trunk
but may occur anywhere. Hemangiomas, on the other hand, are more common in
infants and may present at birth or appear in the first weeks of life. They
often start as flat red spots and can grow into raised, soft, bluish-red
nodules during early infancy before gradually shrinking over time. While most
of these lesions are harmless, some may bleed, become irritated,
or—especially in pediatric cases—affect vision, breathing, or feeding
depending on location. In rare instances, hemangiomas may be associated with
internal vascular abnormalities that require additional evaluation.
Most angiomas and hemangiomas are benign and don’t
require treatment unless they become symptomatic, irritated, cosmetically
concerning, or functionally obstructive. Laser therapy (including pulsed dye
or IPL lasers) is frequently used for cherry angiomas or superficial
hemangiomas to reduce redness and flatten raised lesions. Electrosurgery or
cryotherapy may be used for removal when bleeding or irritation is present.
For rapidly growing infantile hemangiomas, oral or topical beta-blockers such
as propranolol are considered standard treatment to slow or reverse growth.
Charlotte Dermatology’s board-certified dermatologists tailor the approach
based on the patient’s age, skin type, lesion location, and growth behavior.
Ongoing monitoring and parent education are emphasized for children with
hemangiomas, ensuring that treatment is timed appropriately and that cosmetic
and functional outcomes are optimized. Care is available across all
Charlotte-area clinic locations.
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