Cherry Angioma Removal

Cherry angioma removal in London by GMC-registered specialists. Long-pulse Nd:YAG laser for benign red vascular lesions at our CQC-regulated Baker Street clinic.

Cherry Angioma Removal in London

Cherry angioma removal at Centre for Surgery is provided by GMC-registered specialists working from our CQC-regulated clinic at 95–97 Baker Street in Marylebone. We treat cherry angiomas with long-pulse Nd:YAG laser — the most effective and lowest-risk modality available for these benign red vascular skin lesions.

Cherry angiomas (also called Campbell de Morgan spots, after the 19th-century surgeon who first described them) are very common benign vascular lesions made up of clusters of dilated capillaries close to the skin surface. Most adults over 30 develop at least a few, and many people accumulate dozens over decades. They are completely benign, but are often unwelcome cosmetically — particularly when prominent on the face or chest — and can occasionally bleed if knocked or scratched.

This page covers what cherry angiomas are, how we distinguish them from other red lesions including spider angiomas and pyogenic granulomas, the laser treatment process, and how much it costs. For an overview of all our skin lesion services, see our hub page. Related vascular lesions we also treat include and .

Cherry angioma removal is sometimes offered in beauty clinics and aesthetic salons. The reasons to choose a specialist medical service are clinical, not just cosmetic:

At Centre for Surgery, every treatment is preceded by consultation with a GMC-registered specialist who confirms the clinical diagnosis using dermoscopic examination where indicated.

What Is a Cherry Angioma?

A cherry angioma is a benign vascular skin lesion — a localised cluster of dilated capillaries (small surface blood vessels) close to the skin surface, surrounded by thin connective tissue. The medical name is "cherry haemangioma" or "Campbell de Morgan spot". Despite the historical use of the term "haemangioma", these are not true haemangiomas of infancy and behave very differently — cherry angiomas are stable acquired lesions of adulthood with no growth potential.

A typical cherry angioma has these features:

Most adults develop cherry angiomas gradually from age 30 onwards. Some patients have only a few; many have dozens, particularly across the trunk. Once developed, individual lesions tend to remain stable in size, colour and number. Some patients accumulate hundreds of small cherry angiomas over decades. They do not regress on their own.

Patients sometimes confuse cherry angiomas with other red lesions:

The clinical pattern — multiple uniform red dome-shaped lesions on the trunk of an adult over 30 — is usually distinctive and easily recognised at consultation. Atypical features (rapid growth, irregular shape, bleeding without trauma) warrant assessment and sometimes biopsy.

More information about cherry angiomas is available from .

What Cherry Angiomas Look Like

The image above shows typical cherry angiomas — bright red, well-defined, slightly raised dome-shaped lesions on adult skin. Most patients with cherry angiomas have multiple lesions in similar appearance distributed across the trunk and limbs. Individual variation is normal: some lesions are smaller and flat, others larger and more dome-shaped; colour ranges from bright cherry-red through to deeper red-purple.

The visual appearance is usually distinctive enough for confident clinical diagnosis without further investigation. Cherry angiomas accumulate slowly over years rather than appearing suddenly, are uniformly coloured throughout each lesion, and are stable rather than growing. Lesions that look like cherry angiomas but have grown rapidly over weeks, are bleeding repeatedly, or are clinically atypical warrant assessment with dermoscopy and sometimes biopsy before laser treatment.

Causes and Patterns of Cherry Angioma Development

The exact mechanism of cherry angioma formation is not fully understood, but several recognised contributing factors exist.

Common misconceptions:

Most patients accumulate cherry angiomas gradually over years. The sudden eruption of many new cherry angiomas over weeks to months is uncommon and warrants clinical attention.

Reported associations with sudden eruption include:

For patients presenting with sudden multiple new cherry angiomas, we recommend medical review through the GP including general health assessment before purely cosmetic treatment. This is genuinely rare; most patients with multiple cherry angiomas have accumulated them gradually over years, which is normal.

For most patients with strong genetic predisposition, complete prevention is not realistic. Cherry angiomas continue to develop slowly over years regardless of skincare or sun protection — they are largely an age-related and genetically-driven phenomenon. Daily SPF 50+ sun protection has wider value for skin health but is not specifically protective against cherry angioma formation.

When to Have a Cherry Angioma Removed

Cherry angiomas do not need to be removed for medical reasons. They are entirely benign and have no health implications. The decision to remove is yours, based on cosmetic preference and any local symptoms.

A few situations warrant clinical review rather than home self-management:

These features warrant assessment with dermoscopy and sometimes biopsy before any laser treatment.

Most cherry angiomas do not need to be removed. Reasons to leave them alone:

The consultation is the right place to discuss whether removal is sensible for your specific situation. There is no obligation to proceed.

Long-Pulse Nd:YAG Laser: How We Remove Cherry Angiomas

Long-pulse Nd:YAG laser ablation is our preferred treatment for cherry angiomas at Centre for Surgery. The Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) laser at 1064nm wavelength is selectively absorbed by haemoglobin in the dilated capillaries that make up the angioma, heating and sealing the vessels with minimal effect on surrounding skin. We use the Fotona SP Dynamis platform for this work.

Several characteristics make Nd:YAG the appropriate first-line laser for cherry angiomas:

If a lesion has features atypical for cherry angioma — rapid growth, repeated bleeding, irregular shape, asymmetry, mixed colours, or any "ugly duckling" appearance — we recommend biopsy with histopathology before laser treatment. This is uncommon for typical cherry angiomas but is part of careful clinical practice. The biopsy is performed under local anaesthetic at the same visit; results are usually available within 7–14 days.

Several older techniques have been largely superseded by long-pulse Nd:YAG laser:

For most patients, long-pulse Nd:YAG laser ablation gives the best balance of effectiveness, cosmetic outcome and pigmentary safety.

Most cherry angioma treatments are carried out under topical anaesthetic alone or without anaesthetic for small isolated lesions. We do not require general anaesthesia for cherry angioma removal even with extensive multi-lesion sessions.

Differential Diagnosis: Distinguishing Cherry Angiomas from Other Red Lesions

Most cherry angiomas are recognisable clinically, but a small proportion of red skin lesions are not cherry angiomas at all. Recognising the difference matters because the management differs, and a few of the alternative diagnoses are clinically more significant.

The most important differential. Pyogenic granulomas are bright red, often pedunculated (sitting on a stalk), rapidly growing vascular lesions that frequently bleed. They typically grow over weeks rather than years and often follow minor skin trauma or pregnancy. The clinical importance is that pyogenic granulomas need surgical excision with histopathology — laser ablation alone has higher recurrence rates and gives no diagnostic specimen.

Suggestive features for pyogenic granuloma rather than cherry angioma:

See our page for more.

A central red dot with thin red lines radiating outwards like spider legs, supplied by a single central arteriole. Different appearance and different clinical context — multiple new spider angiomas can sometimes be associated with liver disease, pregnancy or hormonal change. Single spider angiomas are common and usually benign.

Suggestive features for spider angioma rather than cherry angioma:

Visible thin surface vessels, typically linear or branching rather than dome-shaped. Common on the face (rosacea-related), legs, and chronically sun-damaged skin. Different from cherry angiomas in being fine linear rather than rounded clusters. See .

Larger, dark blue-purple, soft and compressible vascular lesion typically on the lip vermilion or ear of older adults. See .

Darker red-purple papule with a slightly warty or hyperkeratotic surface, often on scrotum or vulva (Fordyce type) or as a solitary lesion in older skin. Histologically different from cherry angiomas.

Non-pigmented melanoma can rarely present as a red papule. Critical to recognise. Concerning features include irregular shape, asymmetry, recent change, growing size, mixed colours within the lesion, ulceration, or bleeding without trauma. Any "ugly duckling" red lesion warrants assessment with dermoscopy and biopsy before laser treatment. Information about amelanotic melanoma is available from .

Typically small, often tender or painful when pressed, and often on fingertips or under nails. Rare but clinically distinct from cherry angiomas (which are not painful).

Rare in the UK general population but worth mentioning. Multiple red-purple patches and nodules in immunosuppressed patients (particularly HIV) warrant immediate specialist referral, not cosmetic treatment.

Every consultation includes:

If you are reading this and have any red lesion you are unsure about, do not have it ablated with laser anywhere — including here — until a proper assessment has been made.

How Much Does Cherry Angioma Removal Cost in London?

Cherry angioma removal pricing depends on the number of lesions treated in one session and the size of individual lesions.

All quoted prices are "from" prices and cover the procedure itself, topical anaesthetic where used, dressings, and a follow-up review where clinically needed.

The flat-fee tier pricing covers any number of lesions within the relevant band — 8 lesions and 14 lesions both fall within the 6–15 tier. We confirm the appropriate tier on examination at consultation.

The consultation fee is £100, fully redeemable against the cost of any treatment booked.

For lesions where the diagnosis is uncertain or features suggestive of pyogenic granuloma, atypical vascular tumour or amelanotic melanoma are present, we recommend biopsy first. The biopsy procedure is charged at £295. Histopathology is charged separately by the laboratory and paid directly by the patient — typically £150 to £350 depending on complexity.

Most cherry angioma sessions fall below the £1,500 finance threshold. Finance via Chrysalis Finance is available for combined treatment costs above £1,500.

Aftercare and Recovery After Cherry Angioma Removal

Recovery after laser cherry angioma removal is straightforward. Most patients return to normal activity the same day with minimal disruption.

The treated lesions immediately darken — sometimes turning grey-purple or almost black as the laser energy is absorbed. This is the visible sign that the laser has worked, not a complication. Mild redness around the treated points is normal and settles within 1 to 2 hours. Most patients do not need any pain relief.

Each treated point forms a small scab or crust within 24–48 hours. The crusts separate naturally over 5 to 14 days, slightly longer for larger lesions. Apply a thin layer of soft white paraffin (Vaseline) twice a day to keep the area moist and protected. Do not pick at the scabs — premature removal increases the risk of scarring and pigmentary marks.

Mild redness around the treated points is normal and fades over 2 to 4 weeks.

You can return to work the same day. Avoid:

Use a gentle cleanser and a light, non-comedogenic moisturiser during the recovery period.

Apply SPF 50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen over the treated area daily for at least 6 weeks. UV exposure during healing increases the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in skin of colour. Wide-brimmed hats and avoidance of midday sun are also helpful.

For patients with Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin tones, we typically recommend topical agents during the recovery period to reduce pigmentary risk:

Treated cherry angiomas do not typically return at the same site once fully cleared. New cherry angiomas can develop elsewhere on the body over time, particularly in patients who are predisposed to forming them. Periodic top-up treatment of new lesions every 1 to 3 years is typical for many patients with extensive disease.

Contact us on if you experience increasing pain after 48 hours, redness spreading well beyond the treated area, pus discharge, fever, or any concerning change at the treated site. These signs are uncommon but warrant prompt assessment.

Why Choose Centre for Surgery for Cherry Angioma Removal

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated cosmetic surgery clinic at 95–97 Baker Street in Marylebone. Cherry angioma removal is part of our routine vascular and skin lesion service, performed by GMC-registered specialists.

The most important reason to have cherry angiomas treated by a medical specialist rather than an aesthetician is the differential diagnosis. We carry out dermoscopic examination of any atypical lesion and recommend biopsy where there is concern for pyogenic granuloma, atypical vascular tumour or amelanotic melanoma — before any laser treatment. We do not laser anything we are uncertain about.

We use long-pulse Nd:YAG laser as our standard modality for cherry angiomas. Nd:YAG offers selective haemoglobin absorption, deeper penetration than pulsed dye laser, and lower pigmentary risk than KTP or alternative vascular wavelengths — translating to better cosmetic outcomes and lower complication risk. Our Fotona SP Dynamis platform is widely used in dermatology and aesthetic medicine and is well-suited to multi-lesion sessions.

For patients with Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin tones, Nd:YAG is the safest vascular laser modality — significantly safer than KTP, pulsed dye laser, electrodesiccation or cryotherapy. We use conservative settings, recommend test patch treatment first where appropriate, and provide pigment-protective aftercare. We discuss this explicitly at consultation.

Patients with cherry angiomas typically have multiple lesions, sometimes many. Our same-session pricing tiers and efficient treatment approach mean that even patients with 30 or more lesions can usually be addressed in one or two visits without unreasonable cost.

For patients presenting with a sudden eruption of multiple new lesions over weeks to months — rather than gradual accumulation over years — we recommend appropriate medical review through the GP before purely cosmetic treatment. This pattern is rare but worth recognising.

Our Baker Street clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. CQC regulation covers our consulting rooms, procedure rooms, laser safety, decontamination, infection control, staff training and clinical governance.

Our pricing is published on this page. Tier-based pricing covers any number of lesions within the relevant band — there are no per-lesion surprise charges. Biopsy and histopathology, where indicated, are clearly priced separately.

Useful Resources

The following organisations publish reliable patient information about cherry angiomas, vascular skin lesions and the differential diagnoses we have discussed.

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