Cherry angiomas are small, smooth, bright cherry-red spots — harmless clusters of tiny blood vessels that become very common with age. They are not cancer. The reason to know them is that a few red or dark spots that bleed or change do need a look, so an unfamiliar red spot is worth a doctor’s eye.
Cherry angiomaSmall, bright cherry-red spotsAre cherry angiomas dangerous?
No — cherry angiomas are completely harmless. They are benign overgrowths of small blood vessels — not cancer, and they do not become cancer. Most adults develop a few from their 30s onward. The only catch is that a couple of other red or dark spots — including a rare non-pigmented (amelanotic) melanoma or a bleeding lesion — can look similar.
What does a cherry angioma look like?
A typical cherry angioma is a small, bright red, smooth, dome-shaped spot that has been stable:
- Bright cherry-red or purple; does not fade much when pressed.
- Small and round — a pinhead to a few millimetres.
- Smooth or slightly raised; often several, on the trunk.
- Stable — not growing fast or bleeding repeatedly.
Cherry angioma vs melanoma and other red spots
| Feature | Harmless | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Uniform bright red | Dark, black or mixed colours |
| Shape | Small, round, smooth | Irregular or growing |
| Behaviour | Stable for years | Growing fast or bleeding repeatedly |
| Number | Often several similar | One that stands out from the rest |
When to get a red spot checked
Have a red or dark spot reviewed if it is growing quickly, bleeding repeatedly, changing colour, turning dark or black, irregular, or new and unlike your others.
What causes cherry angiomas?
Mostly age and genetics — they tend to run in families and increase over time. They are not caused by anything you did and are not a sign of internal disease.
Can cherry angiomas be removed?
Yes — if one catches on clothing or you dislike it, they are easily removed in clinic. Have any changing or bleeding red spot confirmed benign first.
For white bumps rather than red ones, see milia or skin cancer.
Not sure? Get it reviewed
Upload a photo and Dr Walia will provide written next-step advice from the submitted photographs, including when an in-person examination is appropriate. Get your spot reviewed — $49, or check it free with our AI first.
Not a diagnosis; a doctor’s opinion on a photo cannot rule skin cancer in or out.