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Dermatology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Acute Cherry Angiomas
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.

Acute Cherry Angiomas

by north279, Dec 04, 2005 12:00AM
Hello,

My situation is a bit bizarre and I haven't found any answers yet, so I am hoping you can help!  I am a 29 year old healthy vegetarian male with no previous health issues.  I am currently taking Lexapro and Welbutrin and have been for the past 3 years.

About 2 weeks ago, I woke up covered in small red spots.  They were all over my torso, back, neck, shoulders, and thighs.  They did not appear on my legs below the knee, my face, or my arms past the elbow.  All in all, there are probably between 300-400 of them, each one small, the smallest about the size of a  pin tip, the largest being 1mm in diameter.  The areas are not inflammed and do not itch.  I have not changed my diet in any way, changed skin products or anything else I can think of.

I went to the doctor the same day and she was puzzled.  She said they appear to be cherry angiomas, but she has never seen a case where one wakes up with so many of them so suddenly.  They literally appeared overnight.  I had maybe 3  or 4 before so I was aware of what they were...

She sent out 15 test tubes of blood for various tests -- screening for everything from Lupus, to Lyme's diease, to Hepatitis, to clotting disorder to liver function.  Every test has come back negative.

I am worried since the problem appears to be systemic and secondary since they all appeared so suddenly.  The things they were testing for made me a bit nervous.  My doctor is puzzled and is taking the "if it doesn't hurt, ignore it" approach, but I am concerned due to their sudden onset.  It has been 2 weeks since they appeared and they have not gone away nor have any more appeared.  I have not seen a dermatologist, and my general practictioner said it would be a waste ot time since they would just diagnose them as cherry angiomas.

Do you know of anything that can cause something like this?  Does this sound like a secondary effect of something else or am I being a bit paranoid?  Are there any tests you might recommend for diagnosis?  

Thanks so much for the help!

neil

by Alan Rockoff, MD, Dec 04, 2005 12:00AM
I have to say I am puzzled by your description too.  It may be a viral infection of some kind that will pass on its own.  Given how unusual this rash is, I find your general practitioner's attitude toward dermatologic consultation odd.  If someone doesn't know something, asking an expert in another field to have a look seems reasonable, don't you think?  If you agree, you should insist on getting another opinion.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (2)

by freestate, Jan 26, 2006 12:00AM
I have the same problem. I had none then within a couple of months had hundreds and now have thousands. Docs say it is fragility in my blood vessels but they don't know what is causing it.

I think it is mycotoxin exposure. Also am now having lots of other health issues and skin problems. It has been 6 years since onset and my health is getting worse all the time and all the specialists don't know what it is.

So, to answer your question of should you be concerned...YES.

Is it an indication of something else wrong...YES.

I recommend researching vascular diseases especially blood vessel and what can cause fragility. Mine stopped growing for about a year then this year I got hundreds more again as my health got worse in other areas.
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