Cherry Angiomas on the Scalp

Posted , 2 users are following.

For the last 8-10 years, I've noticed my body accumulating more and more cherry angiomas the older I get. My father has a lot of these too, so I assume it's mostly genetic, and there's nothing much I can really do about it preventatively (I'm open to suggestions!). The highest concentration of them are on my chest and back. Sometimes they stay flat and relatively small; others become larger, raised, and more mole-like in appearance -- the latter being the worst kinds.

Having a few of these are not all that noticeable, but the more that keep popping up they become bothersome and an eyesore. I've had some of the larger ones removed from my back as they can become painful and can snag and then bleed. Dermatologists have used electrocautery and also lasers (NDYAG), and I've even simply had a partner burn them off with a fine tipped paper clip that was heated on a fire-lit stove--this worked just as well as the former, more expensive options.

However, I am now also starting to get these in more sensitive areas: my scalp. In the hopes of preserving what scalp hair I have left, having these lasered or "zapped" off is not ideal as I don't want to destroy any surrounding hair follicles in the process. An esthetician I visited claimed the range is too wide on devices like these and that some hair(s) might get destroyed. Using the at home burning off method is not great either for the same concerns. I also notice that cherry angiomas rarely, if ever, have any hair growing through them. So I wonder if their formation either destroys the surrounding hair follicles, or the hair follicles get displaced and shifted over to make room for the angiomas.

First picture is an example of one on my hairline that is bothersome and visible to me. It has continued to grow and get larger over the years. Second picture is a generic close up (not me) of a cherry angioma that shows how not much hair is typically found in and around them.

image

image

I am curious if anyone has any other safer ideas on how to remove some these from the scalp and hairline without destroying existing hairs in the process. Thank you.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    have you tried freezing. cryotherapy. that's so much easier.

    • Posted

      Hi Barbara, thanks for the reply. No, cryotherapy has never been offered to me for cherry angioma treatment. What would the manner of application be for this and would it be small enough not disrupt the surrounding hair?

    • Posted

      Cryotherapy is a procedure that uses extreme cold (liquid nitrogen) to destroy tissue. check with your doctor .

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.