Cherry angiomas are small, benign red dots made of clustered blood vessels. Pregnancy is one of the strongest known triggers. The estrogen surge of pregnancy directly stimulates new vessel formation, and many women notice their first cherry angiomas, or a wave of new ones, between the first and second trimester. They are harmless to you and to your baby. The honest question is whether they fade after birth, and the answer depends on how long the vessels have been established.
For background on what these spots are and where they typically form, see the complete cherry angiomas locations and causes guide.
Key takeaways
Pregnancy estrogen drives new cherry angiomas. Some fade postpartum. Others stay. Here is what to expect.
- Cherry angiomas often appear or multiply during pregnancy because rising estrogen drives new blood vessel formation in the skin.
- They are harmless and carry no risk to you or your baby. No treatment is needed during pregnancy.
- Some fade within weeks to a few months after delivery as estrogen drops. Others, especially those formed early or before pregnancy, become permanent.
- Estrogen stays elevated during breastfeeding. New dots can continue to form in this window.
- Active at-home treatment should wait until after pregnancy AND after breastfeeding is complete, when hormones have returned to baseline.
- Any remaining spots at that point can be addressed at home with a plasma pen device.
What cherry angiomas are (and are not)
Cherry angiomas are benign overgrowths of small blood vessels in the uppermost layer of the skin. They look like a bright or deep red dot, anywhere from a pinpoint to a few millimeters across. They do not itch, do not hurt, and do not signal anything dangerous. They are not a rash, not a pregnancy complication, and not something that requires medical intervention.
They are extremely common. Most people develop at least a few over the course of their lifetime, and hormonal events like pregnancy accelerate that process. The American Academy of Dermatology lists cherry angiomas among the most common benign skin growths adults encounter.
How to tell a cherry angioma from something to watch
A cherry angioma is consistently red, flat to slightly raised, round, and does not change color when you press on it (it may briefly blanch and refill, which is the blood returning). It does not crust, bleed on its own, grow rapidly, or have an irregular border. If a spot during pregnancy looks different from that description, a dermatologist or OB appointment is the right move before anything else. The classic appearance is uniform, smooth, and clearly red. Anything asymmetric, multi-colored, or changing shape warrants a professional look.
Why cherry angiomas appear during pregnancy
Estrogen rises dramatically across all three trimesters, reaching levels far above those of a normal menstrual cycle. One of estrogen's known effects is angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. Estrogen signals the body to grow more vasculature in preparation for supporting the placenta and fetal development. Cherry angiomas form when that signal causes small surface blood vessels to proliferate in the skin.
For the full picture on how estrogen drives cherry angioma formation across different hormonal events, see the full hormone and cherry angioma guide. Cherry angiomas are part of the broader pattern of hormonal skin changes in pregnancy, which also includes melasma, linea nigra, and spider veins. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discusses the range of skin changes that accompany pregnancy.
When in pregnancy they tend to appear
Most women who develop new cherry angiomas during pregnancy notice them beginning in the first or second trimester, when estrogen is climbing most steeply. A second wave sometimes appears in the third trimester. The total number of new spots varies widely. Some women develop two or three. Others develop dozens. Neither outcome is a sign of anything abnormal, and the count does not predict how many will remain after birth.
Do they fade after pregnancy or do they stay?
This is the honest split, and most sources gloss over it.
Some fade. Cherry angiomas that formed recently during the pregnancy, where the vessels are still relatively immature, often diminish within weeks to a few months after delivery as estrogen drops sharply postpartum. The vessels contract and the dot becomes less visible or disappears entirely.
Some persist. Cherry angiomas that formed earlier in the pregnancy, or that were already present before pregnancy and multiplied, tend to become permanent. The vessels have matured and stabilized, and they no longer respond to the drop in estrogen. They are not harmful. They simply stay.
There is no reliable way to predict which dots will fade. If a dot is still clearly visible at three to six months postpartum, after breastfeeding has ended and hormones have had time to settle, it is unlikely to fade further on its own. That is the practical point at which considering removal makes sense. For more on why cherry angiomas tend not to self-resolve once the vessels are established, see why cherry angiomas appear suddenly and what drives them.
What the evidence says about triggers during pregnancy
Because different sources frame the evidence differently, here is the honest split for pregnancy specifically.
| Evidence level | What it covers | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Established | Estrogen surge of pregnancy driving angiogenesis and new cherry angioma formation. Cherry angiomas are benign and carry no risk to pregnancy or baby. | Consistent across dermatology and obstetric literature. You can rely on this. |
| Suspected, not proven | The exact fraction that fade postpartum vs. persist long-term. Whether breastfeeding-related estrogen meaningfully extends the active formation window beyond the delivery drop. | Clinical pattern is consistent but individual outcomes vary. Waiting to reassess at three to six months post-breastfeeding is the practical approach. |
| Not established | That dietary changes during pregnancy prevent cherry angioma formation. That topical treatments during pregnancy are effective or appropriate for cherry angiomas. That "hormone-balancing" supplements affect the count. | No clinical basis for these interventions in this context. Not worth acting on during pregnancy. |
Are cherry angiomas safe to leave during pregnancy?
Yes. Cherry angiomas carry no medical risk during pregnancy. They do not bleed spontaneously, do not affect the pregnancy outcome, and do not require any intervention. Leaving them alone through pregnancy is the correct approach.
There is no evidence that new cherry angiomas during pregnancy signal anything about the health of the pregnancy or your baby. They are a cosmetic side effect of a major hormonal shift, and the same biology driving them is also building the placental circulation supporting your baby.
The one exception to watchful waiting: if a spot bleeds repeatedly, changes shape or color during pregnancy, or does not match the classic cherry angioma appearance, that is worth mentioning to your OB or midwife at the next visit to rule out something unrelated. The Mayo Clinic provides useful general guidance on when benign skin changes warrant clinical attention.
The estrogen that helps grow the placenta also drives cherry angioma formation. Both are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.
When to treat: after pregnancy and after breastfeeding
Treatment options for cherry angiomas work well, but the timing matters for two clear reasons.
Why breastfeeding matters for timing
Estrogen remains elevated during breastfeeding, though at lower levels than during pregnancy. New cherry angiomas can continue to form or existing ones can expand in this window. Treating a spot before hormones have returned to baseline means treating against an active driver, and new dots may appear nearby shortly after. It is worth letting the full hormonal reset happen before assessing what remains.
The practical plan
Leave the dots alone through pregnancy. Let breastfeeding complete. Wait a few weeks after weaning for hormones to stabilize. Then reassess. Any spots that are still clearly visible at that point are unlikely to resolve on their own and are candidates for treatment.
For women who are not breastfeeding, the reset can happen faster. Estrogen typically returns toward pre-pregnancy levels within the first few months after delivery. Three to six months postpartum is a reasonable point to assess which spots have faded and which have not.
The NIH MedlinePlus skin conditions hub provides general reference information on benign skin conditions and their management.
The bottom line
Cherry angiomas during pregnancy are a direct result of the estrogen surge, and they are harmless. The honest answer on whether they fade is: some will, some will not. Spots that formed early in the pregnancy or before it are more likely to persist. Leaving them alone through pregnancy and breastfeeding is both the safe and the sensible approach, because some will resolve on their own and the hormonal environment during breastfeeding can keep new ones forming.
Once breastfeeding is complete and hormones have returned to baseline, any remaining spots can be addressed at home. The OcuraLife Plasma Pen delivers focused plasma energy to each spot in a single five-minute session. A small scab forms, falls away between Day 3 and Day 7, and the skin is clear by Week 2 to Week 3. Nine adjustable settings let you match the treatment to the spot.
If anything looks unusual during pregnancy or postpartum (bleeding, irregular border, changing shape), see a dermatologist or your OB before treating anything yourself.
28,000+
Customers served
90 days
Risk-free trial
At home
No clinic, no appointment
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from women noticing cherry angiomas during pregnancy and the postpartum window.
↓ Tap each question to reveal the answer.
Clear skin, on your own terms
The OcuraLife Plasma Pen is built for this
When you are ready after pregnancy and breastfeeding: focused plasma energy at the spot, 5 minutes per cherry angioma, 9 adjustable settings. The scab falls off on its own and clear skin follows by Week 2 to 3.
See the Plasma Pen