Angioma

What are angiomas

Often a cause of aesthetic embarrassment, the angioma (or hemangioma) is a generally benign vascular neoformation, i.e. a vascular tumor composed of blood vessels.
These, proliferating disorderly, form red agglomerations, usually quite small, which generally appear on the skin as superficial lesions (cutaneous angioma) or deep lesions (deep cutaneous angioma).

The correct medical term to indicate an angioma is benign neoplasm of mesodermal origin, but popularly this problem is often called “desire for wine” or “strawberry”, or even red “neo”.
Cutaneous angioma is only one of the possible manifestations of the phenomenon, the “visible” one and also the most common. It usually occurs on the head, chest, back and more rarely, on the limbs; it can disappear by itself or last a lifetime.

Causes of angioma

These neoformations can be congenital or appear over the years, especially after the age of thirty. However, the causes are unknown, although they appear to be related to a genetic predisposition. Pregnancy, hormonal imbalances in general and exposure to chemical products, including certain drugs, also seem to have an impact on the appearance.

Types of angioma

Angiomas can be flat, therefore superficial and flat, tuberous, i.e. in the shape of a raised papule, or cavernous, i.e. deep and with subcutaneous branches, which appear as a bluish and localized swelling.

Furthermore, angiomas can be classified into three categories.

• Ruby or cherry angioma: this is the most common, also known as “senile” angioma, as it often occurs in adulthood. It is usually small (maximum 6 millimeters), oval or circular in shape, flat or slightly raised.
• Stellate angioma: also known as arachnoid angioma (or spider naevus), it has a characteristic radiant shape, made up of spider web filaments and capillaries. It is typical in light phototypes.
• Hutchinson’s serpiginous angioma: is a rare vascular malformation of genetic origin that affects children and adolescents. This type of skin angioma initially appears as a small papule similar to those of erythema. Over time, it tends to radiate with the appearance of new peripheral papules, while the original central one fades. In this way, the lesion still tends to grow larger, forming a sort of grid.

How to eliminate angioma

Angiomas are now relatively simple to remove. Although the intervention techniques are varied, according to Image Regenerative Clinic experts, the most effective solutions are lasers, technologies that allow the beam to be directed onto the neoformation and ablated.
The lasers indicated for this type of problem are the CO2 laser and the vascular laser.

In the case of very extensive, cavernous angiomas, or in areas that create functional problems (for example on the eye and on the lips) surgical removal may be necessary on the basis of clinical tests.