Red moles or freckles on the skin are very common. Often these red spots are just cherry angiomas which are non-cancerous skin growths. These are usually seen in people over the age of 30 years.
However, there are other skin lesions that can appear similar to red moles and it is important to identify them to avoid missing skin lesions like skin cancer.
Overview
Red moles or freckles is a name often used for cherry angiomas or hemangiomas. However, these are not true moles or freckles.
True moles are formed due to an increase in the number of melanocytes while true freckles occur due to increased melanin formation by the melanocytes.
Red moles or cherry angiomas are skin growths that consist of small blood vessels called capillaries. They appear as bright red spots on the skin. These spots can be flat or raised and the size can vary from 1 mm to 5 mm. They usually do not itch or hurt.
Other names used for red moles or cherry angiomas are Campbell de Morgan spots and senile angiomas.
Pictures
Causes
The exact cause of red moles is not known. However, it is associated with certain factors like aging, genetics, hormonal changes during pregnancy, tropical climate, exposure to certain drugs or chemicals, and immunosuppression.
Treatment
Red moles are harmless and do not require treatment. However, if they cause any symptoms like bleeding or you don’t like the look of them, they can be removed in a doctor’s office by the following procedures:
- Lasers: The laser targets the blood vessels and destroys them.
- Cryotherapy: The red mole is frozen with liquid nitrogen.
- Electrodesiccation: The red mole is burned with electric current and heat.
- Excision: The red mole is shaved or cut with sterile surgical instruments.
All the above-mentioned procedures should only be done by a doctor. One should not attempt to cut or pop the red mole at home.
In addition, topical creams or home remedies cannot remove red moles.
Read the detailed post on the removal of red moles.
Look-alikes
There are other skin lesions that can be mistaken for red moles or cherry angiomas. These include:
1. True freckles
True freckles can be red, light, or brown in color. In comparison to cherry angiomas, true red freckles are often seen at a young age (children, teens).
True freckles are flat spots with an irregular border and may fade as you age or may fade in winter when the sun is less intense. Freckles are often seen in sun-exposed areas like the face, arms, upper chest, neck, and back.
2. Spider angiomas
Spider angiomas are red spots caused by enlarged or dilated blood vessels. These have a central red spot surrounded by red extensions. They are usually seen on the face, neck, upper chest, and arms.
Large lesions can be pulsatile (you can feel a pulse in it). These are usually harmless but multiple spots may be a sign of underlying medical conditions like liver disease.
3. Pyogenic granuloma
Pyogenic granulomas may look like cherry angiomas. However, these usually grow rapidly and there may be a previous history of injury. In addition, these are friable and bleed easily.
Initially, the surface of these red bumps is smooth but over time it can become rough and crusty.
It is often seen in younger age groups like children and pregnant females. The commonly involved sites are the head, neck, upper trunk, hands and feet, and the mouth.
4. Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer which can present as a red pearly bump or patch on the skin. It occurs as a result of DNA damage, mainly from the UV rays.
The lesions are usually seen on areas that are exposed to the sun like the face, neck, scalp, ears, or trunk.
5. Amelanotic melanoma
Melanoma is the cancer of melanocytes, the cells which make pigment. Amelanotic melanoma is a variant of melanoma that does not have pigment.
These can appear as red, pink, or skin-colored spots with irregular borders. As compared to red moles, these cancer spots require treatment.
6. Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon type of skin cancer that usually appears as a red or skin-colored bump on the face, head, or neck. It is often seen in older individuals.
When to see a doctor
Red moles are not dangerous; however, one should see a doctor if:
- A new red mole appears which is different from previous cherry angiomas.
- The red moles change in appearance.
- There is a sudden appearance of multiple red moles without any known reason.
- The red moles cause any symptoms or do not stop bleeding.
- You have other systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, etc.
- The red moles are surrounded by a red or purplish halo (which may indicate systemic amyloidosis).
- The red moles affect your self-confidence.
- You are not sure if the red bumps are cherry angiomas or something else.
Key points
Red moles or freckles are cherry angiomas, which are benign or noncancerous skin growths and are harmless. If needed, they can be removed in a doctor’s office.
Red moles can resemble many other skin lesions some of which can be dangerous and require treatment like skin cancer.
Any red mole that changes in appearance should be examined by a doctor.
References
- Schmidt CP. Purpuric halos around hemangiomas in systemic amyloidosis. Cutis. 1991 Aug;48(2):141-3. PMID: 1935240.
- McClain SE, Mayo KB, Shada AL, Smolkin ME, Patterson JW, Slingluff CL Jr. Amelanotic melanomas presenting as red skin lesions: a diagnostic challenge with potentially lethal consequences. Int J Dermatol. 2012 Apr;51(4):420-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05066.x. PMID: 22435430; PMCID: PMC4465919.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice.