Symptoms
So-called senile hemangiomas are small, round, sharply demarcated, cherry-red (light red, dark red to purple) spots or slightly raised papules on the skin that often occur in multiples. They are less than a millimeter to a few millimeters in size and do not cause discomfort. They may grow slightly over time and be cosmetically bothersome. Angiomas often occur on the trunk. Sufferers are often distressed after discovering the spots. However, senile hemangioma is benign, harmless and not a skin cancer.
Causes
Senile hemangioma is caused by dilatation and histologic alteration of the blood vessels. Age and heredity (genetics) are risk factors. The spots appear from about 30 years of age are very common in the elderly.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made in medical treatment based on the patient’s history and clinical presentation. The hemangioma becomes paler when pressed on with a transparent object because this forces blood out of the vessels. Patients should not self-diagnose because red papules on the skin may have other causes.
Nonpharmacologic treatment
Generally, therapy is not absolutely necessary because it is a benign change of the skin. Senile hemangiomas can be removed with medical treatment using various physical and mechanical methods (e.g., laser, cryotherapy, excision, electrocautery, sclerotherapy).
Drug treatment
In principle, topical treatment with antiangiogenic or vasoactive agents might be possible (e.g., beta-blockers-as in infantile hemangioma?). However, there is little information on this in the literature.
