What are Campbell de Morgan Spots?
Campbell de Morgan Spots are also called cherry angioma or hemangioma. They are small red spots that tend to occur in people over the age of 40. Campbell de Morgan Spots can occur with greater frequency as we get older, sometimes leading people to call them senile angioma. They most normally are present on the trunk of the body, usually no larger than about .25 inches (.64 cm) across. Some are pinprick sized and barely noticeable.
The bright red or purple color of Campbell de Morgan Spots results from tiny capillaries at the skin’s surface clustering together and dilating. They are not harmful, and are considered a benign skin growth. Campbell de Morgan Spots are not painful, but some are prone to bleeding when scratched or bruised. People may want them removed simply because they find their presence annoying or unsightly. From a purely medical perspective they don’t require removal unless they’re prone to bleeding frequently.
Commonly, doctors remove Campbell de Morgan Spots via three different methods. Electrosurgery is minor surgery, using a small needle that generates electricity to disrupt and remove an angioma. Cryotherapy is most common, and uses liquid nitrogen to essentially freeze off Campbell de Morgan Spots. Laser removal is now possible with many Campbell de Morgan Spots. These procedures tend to leave very little scarring, if any.
In some cases, Campbell de Morgan Spots do enlarge past the quarter inch mentioned. In these cases, if you notice growth of the spot it can be a good idea to have it removed. Sometimes doctors perform a biopsy to be certain that the spots are indeed harmless angioma. This is often unnecessary since they are well recognized by the medical community. Larger Campbell de Morgan Spots may be slightly more prone to bleeding and a bit more scarring when removed.
Physicians don’t really know what causes Campbell de Morgan Spots, though it is theorized they simply represent one of the aging factors of skin. They occur with equal frequency in both men and women, and incidence of them occurring tends to go up as we age. Some people seem more prone to getting Campbell de Morgan Spots than do others, suggesting that certain skin types or population groups may be more at risk.
Fortunately, to most people Campbell de Morgan Spots do not pose any type of threat. They don’t indicate skin cancer, and they usually don’t require any type of treatment. Yet, as with any skin growth, you should definitely have the appearance of any growths on the skin examined to rule out more harmful skin conditions.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
