Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
Cherry angioma is a small, benign cluster of capillaries in the upper skin, seen as a bright red to purple dot, flat or domed, most often on the trunk, upper arms and shoulders. It is often called a red mole, but it contains no pigment cells and does not turn into melanoma; its colour comes from blood, not melanin. Numbers rise from around the age of 40. Removal is optional, by electrocautery, radiofrequency, vascular laser or cryotherapy, after examination.
Key facts
ICD-10
D18.01
Other names
Campbell de Morgan spot, senile angioma, cherry haemangioma
What it is
A benign capillary growth; acquired GNAQ and GNA11 mutations are found in the vessel cells of many, which is why they behave as small, stable growths
Removal
Electrocautery or radiofrequency, vascular laser or cryotherapy, matched to size and site; a new, bleeding or unusual red spot is examined first
Where it fits
Cherry angiomas cause no symptoms and carry no risk of turning into cancer; their importance is that they are visible, can bleed when nicked by a razor or caught on a strap, and are easy to confuse with the small number of red spots that do matter. Reviews estimate that around three-quarters of people over 75 have them, and new spots appearing gradually over the years is the expected pattern. No cream, diet or supplement makes them recede. Full page: cherry angiomas: the red moles that are not moles; true pigmented moles on mole removal; the other red vessels of the face on facial thread veins.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A mole is a cluster of pigment-producing cells; a cherry angioma is a cluster of capillaries, and its colour comes from the blood inside them. It contains no melanocytes and does not become melanoma.
Age is the clearest driver, with numbers rising from around 40. Specific acquired mutations in genes such as GNAQ and GNA11 are found in the vessel cells of many cherry angiomas, which explains why they behave as small, stable growths rather than as a rash.
