Seeing red moles, or strawberry freckles, on your skin can be alarming, but they’re usually not dangerous. If you notice these red or pink growths, many innovative therapies are available to minimize their appearance.

Below, we explain the possible causes of red freckles and recommend the best laser devices to treat them.

What are red freckles?

The red freckles on your chest or arms are cherry moles, also known as cherry angiomas, the most common type of vascular anomaly. Similar to hemangiomas, these benign skin growths consist of blood vessels that produce their reddish appearance. But while hemangiomas develop in early infancy through childhood, cherry angiomas commonly occur in adults.

Red moles on the skin typically appear after age 30. Like freckles, they can be smooth and flat or slightly elevated. Red freckles can appear anywhere but commonly develop on the torso, arms, and legs.

What causes red freckles to appear?

While the exact cherry angioma causes remain unknown, certain factors can increase your risk of developing them, including:

• Age (red freckles appear in individuals in their 30s and increase in size and number with age.)
• Pregnancy (hormones)
• Chemical exposure (topical nitrogen mustard, bromides, and butoxyethanol)
• Genetic mutations
• Climate

Are they dangerous?

No. Red freckles are not dangerous or cancerous. However, many harmful skin conditions can look like red freckles, so it’s always important to see a board-certified dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.

Treatments for Cherry Angiomas

Pulsed dye and vascular lasers can effectively target cherry angiomas. The most effective types include:

• Excel V™ KTP: features dual laser technology to target various skin concerns. Customizable laser settings precisely target the blood vessels, inducing coagulation and causing the blood vessels to collapse.
• nd:YAG: delivers rapid pulses to effectively target vascular lesions. The light energy emitted by the laser penetrates blood vessels, so they collapse and close.
• Pulsed Dye Laser: works by targeting the blood beneath the skin’s surface. The laser energy goes directly into the blood vessel or lesion, leaving the surrounding skin and tissue untouched. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy is effective for treating vascular lesions, visible vessels, and angiomas.
• Vbeam Perfecta™: is a pulsed dye laser that treats blood vessels inside the vein without harming surrounding skin and tissue.
• Vbeam Prima®: is a pulsed dye laser used to target benign vascular, pigmented, and certain non-pigmented lesions.

Schedule your laser treatment in new york

Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York is a state-of-the-art laser and cosmetic skin surgery center with an in-house research facility and more than 100 laser and energy devices. Our acclaimed team of board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologists can customize treatments with the precision necessary to ensure safe procedures and superior results.

Schedule your appointment today in Manhattan or Southampton, New York, to learn more about red freckles and how laser therapy can treat them.