Pulsed Dye Laser for Cherry Angioma Treatment?

asked 3 years ago by Alex123 in Boston, MA
Latest answer by John Burns, MD
Question viewed 10,697 times
Tags: angioma, cherry angiomas

For a moderate case of cherry angioma, how many pulsed dye laser sessions are recommended to see desired results (on average)? How long does the treatment last?

8 answers to Pulsed Dye Laser for Cherry Angioma Treatment?

Pulsed dye laser is an excellent choice for cherry angiomas

The pulsed dye laser in considered the gold standard for treatment of vascular lesions like cherry angiomas. It has an excellent safety record and can remove cherry angiomas in one treatment, unless they are very large. Other choices include Nd:YAG (Gentle YAG) KTP lasers IPL Having used all of these devices, I recommend the pulsed dye laser or Nd:YAG. Best of luck! Dr. Groff

William Groff, DO
San Diego Dermatologist

Cherry Angioma laser treatment

The problem with hemangiomas or general "angiomas" is that these tend to be thicker lesions thich can penetrate below the level of the skin. The pulsed dye laser will penetrate about 0.7mm into the skin which essentially treats only the top layers of the skin (epidermis and papillary dermis). This is why it can be so difficult to treat these type of vascular lesions with a pulsed dye laser. A better option would be to combine the pulsed dye laser with a Nd:YAG... more

John Burns, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Pulsed Dye Laser usually works for Cherry Angiomas

Most cherry angiomas (little red spots on the skin that increase with age) respond very well to pulsed dye laser - typically one or two treatments. The larger ones (> 5mm) can sometimes be more stubborn. Multiple spots can be treated at one visit - actually quite satisfying to treat usually because of the response rate with pretty low risk of complications.

Daniel Berg, MD
Seattle Dermatologic Surgeon

Pulsed dye laser is not best for cherry angiomas.

The pulsed dye laser uses a 585nm (yellow) wavelength with a 450 microsecond pulse duration and high energies of 4-7 joules/cm2. Spot sizes are typically 5-10mm, quite a bit larger than most angiomas. These parameters are best for treating tiny blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin, NOT much-larger angiomas. This laser was developed in the early 1980's for use on port wine stain capillary malformations. The energy dosage is calculated to destroy the (very tiny) vessels... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Pulsed dye great for cherry angiomas

For most small to medium (up to size of pencil eraser) just one treatment with the pulsed dye laser will effective for complete removal. Occasionally 2 treatments are needed and 2 treatments are more common for largercherry angiomas.

Elizabeth F. Rostan, MD
Charlotte Dermatologist

Cherry Angioma Treatment

There are several lasers that treat cherry angiomas, including the YAG laser and the PDL. Both target the blood vessels and hemoglobin within the vascular lesion, causing them to be destroyed.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Pulsed dye Laser is the treatment of choice.

Using a pulsed dye (YAG) laser is the preferred method of treatment for your cherry angioma. IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments also work extremely well in this case. If the lesion is small, even a hyfrecator (a medical apparatus used to seal vessels) can give you desired results. The number of treatments does depend on the size of complexity of the lesions. As Dr. Lupton mentioned above, cherry angiomas usually do not reoccur once removed. However, you may need additional... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

One to two treatments at most.

Cherry angiomas typically respond quite well to pulsed dye laser treatment. Smaller lesions usually only require one treatment although a small amount of bruising may occur post-treatment. This bruising is usually a mild purplish discoloration limited to the area of treatment and generally resolves over a week or so. Larger cherry angiomas may need multiple treatments (2-4 on average) or the addition of another laser (typically a YAG laser) if they penetrate quite deeply into the skin... more

Jason R. Lupton, MD
San Diego Dermatologist

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