This image displays a spider angioma.
This image displays a spider angioma.
A spider angioma is a dilated, small capillary.
A spider angioma is a dilated, small capillary.
Spider angiomas are bright red, flat, and easily blanch when you press your finger on them.
Spider angiomas are bright red, flat, and easily blanch when you press your finger on them.
This image displays a typical spider angioma.
This image displays a typical spider angioma.
This image displays a central blood vessel with many
This image displays a central blood vessel with many "legs" branching from the center typical of spider angioma.
This flat spider angioma demonstrates why it is often called a
This flat spider angioma demonstrates why it is often called a "spider," with tiny blood vessels radiating out from a central larger blood vessel.
Spider angiomas are usually deep red but will fade easily when you press on the lesion with your finger.
Spider angiomas are usually deep red but will fade easily when you press on the lesion with your finger.

Images of Spider Angioma (7)

This image displays a spider angioma.
A spider angioma is a dilated, small capillary.
Spider angiomas are bright red, flat, and easily blanch when you press your finger on them.
This image displays a typical spider angioma.
This image displays a central blood vessel with many
This flat spider angioma demonstrates why it is often called a
Spider angiomas are usually deep red but will fade easily when you press on the lesion with your finger.

Spider Angioma

A spider angioma is a common skin condition that appears as a red papule (a small, solid bump) with small red vessels radiating from it on the surface of the skin. The pattern is thought to resemble the body and legs of a spider. Applying pressure on the central portion of a spider angioma may cause the entire lesion to disappear, but then it will rapidly refill with blood once the pressure is released.



Who's At Risk?

Spider angiomas are common in both children and adults. They appear more frequently during pregnancy, in people on birth control pills, and in people with liver disease.

Signs & Symptoms

Spider angiomas are most often seen on the face or trunk, and they may also be seen on the hands, forearms, and ears. There may be one spider angioma or several. Each spider angioma is a small (1-10 mm) area of redness that disappears with direct pressure but rapidly returns when the pressure is released. There is often a central red dot and small red lines radiating out from the center. The redness is often easier to see in lighter skin colors.

People who are pregnant or on birth control pills may see improvement after they are no longer affected by hormones.

Self-Care Guidelines

No self-care measures are needed.

Treatments

  • If the lesion is cosmetically bothersome, it can usually be removed with burning (electrodesiccation) or laser treatments.
  • If there is concern for a liver problem, blood tests will likely be done.

Visit Urgency

Seek medical care if:

  • The area bleeds repeatedly or begins to grow in size or change color.
  • You suddenly develop many lesions.
  • You have signs of or are at risk for liver disease (such as yellow skin color, a swollen belly, or a history of heavy alcohol use).

Trusted Links

References

Bolognia J, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

James WD, Elston D, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA. Andrew’s Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019.

Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.

Paller A, Mancini A. Paller and Mancini: Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022.

Last modified on June 14th, 2024 at 1:22 pm

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