You spotted a small red mark and looked it up online. Now you are staring at two possibilities: cherry angioma and spider angioma. They are both benign. They are both common. They look similar at a glance. They are not the same thing, and the difference matters if you want to treat one.
This guide covers the visual, structural, and causal differences between cherry angiomas and spider angiomas, how to tell them apart at home, and what that identification means for your removal options.
Key takeaways
Both are benign. The structure is different. The identification step matters before you treat.
- A cherry angioma is a round dome of red color with no radiating lines. It typically appears on the torso.
- A spider angioma has a central red dot with lines radiating outward like spider legs. It is more common on the face and neck.
- Press the center: a spider angioma blanches completely and refills from the center. A cherry angioma blanches but refills uniformly.
- Multiple spider angiomas in adults with liver disease or heavy alcohol use warrant a doctor visit.
- Both respond to plasma pen treatment at home if confirmed as benign.
What is a cherry angioma?
A cherry angioma is a small, round growth caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels just under the skin surface. The result is a dome-shaped bump, usually bright cherry-red to dark red, with a smooth surface and a well-defined border. They range in size from 1 to 5 millimeters and most commonly appear on the trunk: the chest, abdomen, and back. They can also appear on the arms, shoulders, and legs.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, cherry angiomas are one of the most common benign vascular lesions in adults, especially after age 30. They become more numerous with age. They are not cancerous, not contagious, and do not turn into anything harmful. The cause is not fully understood, but genetics, age, and hormonal factors all appear to contribute.
What is a spider angioma?
A spider angioma is a small dilated arteriole at the skin surface with smaller vessels radiating outward from the center, forming a pattern that resembles a spider with its legs extended. The central dot is the feeding arteriole. The radiating lines are the branches fed by it.
Spider angiomas appear most often on the face (cheeks, nose), neck, and upper chest. They are associated with elevated estrogen levels, which is why they are common in pregnancy and in people using oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. They are also associated with liver conditions, because the liver processes estrogen and impaired liver function raises estrogen levels. Per Mayo Clinic, multiple spider angiomas appearing in an adult with known liver disease or heavy alcohol use are a recognized clinical finding worth evaluating.
Side by side: cherry angioma vs spider angioma
How to tell them apart at home
The press test
The most reliable at-home distinction is the press test. Press firmly on the central dot (or for a cherry angioma, the center of the dome) with a clean fingertip and hold for two to three seconds, then release.
A spider angioma blanches completely from the central dot outward when you press. When you release, the color returns from the center outward. This happens because pressing cuts off the central feeding arteriole, and when you release, the arteriole refills from the center.
A cherry angioma also blanches when pressed, but because there is no central feeding arteriole, the blanching and refilling are uniform rather than directional from a single point.
A non-blanching red mark is neither of these. A red mark that does not change color at all when you press firmly is called a petechiae (caused by blood under the skin rather than a dilated vessel). That finding warrants a doctor visit, not at-home treatment.
Visual identification
If you can see it clearly under good light: a cherry angioma looks like a tiny red dome, like a drop of bright red wax on the skin. There are no legs, no spiderweb pattern, no central elevated dot with radiating lines. A spider angioma looks like a small red star or spider shape, with a central dot and lines clearly radiating outward from it. The central dot may be slightly raised. The pattern is visible without pressing.
Location as a clue
Location is a useful secondary clue, not a diagnostic rule. Cherry angiomas are most common on the torso (chest, abdomen, back). If you have a red dome-shaped mark on your stomach or chest, it is more likely a cherry angioma than a spider angioma. Spider angiomas prefer the face: the cheeks, alongside the nose, and the upper chest and neck. If you have a radiating pattern on your cheek, it is more likely a spider angioma than a cherry angioma.
Neither rule is absolute. Both can appear anywhere on the body. Use the press test and the structural description for confirmation, not location alone.
What causes each one?
Cherry angioma causes
Cherry angiomas are caused by an overgrowth of small blood vessels near the skin surface. The trigger for this overgrowth is not fully established, but aging is the strongest risk factor. They are rare before age 30 and become more common every decade after that. Genetics play a role: if one of your parents has many cherry angiomas, you are more likely to develop them. Some research suggests hormonal factors may contribute, but the primary driver is age-related changes in the vasculature of the skin. They are not caused by sun damage, infection, or lifestyle factors in the way that spider angiomas can be influenced by estrogen and liver health.
Spider angioma causes
Spider angiomas are caused by dilation of a small central arteriole. Estrogen is the primary driver: elevated estrogen levels cause blood vessels to dilate more readily. Pregnancy raises estrogen sharply and is one of the most common contexts for spider angioma development. Spider angiomas that appear during pregnancy often resolve after delivery once estrogen normalizes. Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy carry the same mechanism. Liver disease or heavy alcohol use can impair the liver's ability to process estrogen, leading to elevated circulating estrogen and, in some cases, multiple spider angiomas. For more on the hormonal and liver connections, see our guide on spider angioma causes, pregnancy, and liver.
When to see a doctor
See a dermatologist if
- The mark does not blanch at all when pressed firmly. Non-blanching red marks can be petechiae, which warrant medical evaluation.
- You have multiple new spider angiomas appearing over a short period, and you drink alcohol regularly or have a history of liver problems.
- The mark is growing rapidly, bleeding, or has a raised, crusted, or unusual surface.
- You are pregnant and have unusually extensive vascular marks appearing beyond the normal expected range.
- You are uncertain about the identification before treating at home.
At-home treatment for cherry angiomas and spider angiomas
Both cherry angiomas and spider angiomas respond to plasma pen treatment for confirmed, benign marks in adults. The mechanism is slightly different depending on the mark type.
For a cherry angioma, the plasma pen targets the vascular overgrowth at the surface. For a spider angioma, the pen targets the central arteriole, which collapses the whole radiating pattern. In both cases, a small protective scab forms between Day 3 and Day 7 and falls off on its own. By Week 2 to Week 3, the treated skin is clear.
The OcuraLife Plasma Pen has 9 adjustable power settings, which allows calibration for the size and depth of the lesion. Treatment per spot takes approximately 5 minutes. For more on the device and safety, see is the plasma pen safe. For a roundup of at-home plasma pen devices, see our best at-home plasma pens 2026 guide. For NIH-level background on skin conditions, MedlinePlus is a reliable reference.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about cherry angiomas and spider angiomas, answered directly.
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More questions, answered
The bottom line
Cherry angiomas and spider angiomas are both benign, both common in adults, and both treatable at home with a plasma pen once confirmed. The structural difference is clear when you look closely: cherry angiomas are solid round domes; spider angiomas have a central dot and legs. The press test confirms which you are looking at.
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The OcuraLife Plasma Pen is built for both
One device. Nine power settings. Five minutes per spot. A scab between Day 3 and Day 7 that falls off on its own. Clear skin by Week 2 to 3. Over 28,000 customers served.
See the Plasma PenOutbound references: American Academy of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, NIH MedlinePlus skin conditions.
