Do you have bright red, sometimes raised, sometimes flat spots that seem to appear on your skin out of nowhere? Did your doctor tell you that they are harmless and people get them as they age? In his book Dr. Chi’s Fingernail and Tongue Analysis, Dr. Chi says these mole-like skin growths are created when estrogen attacks peripheral blood vessels, causing an aneurysm, which suggests hormones may be a major factor in their formation.

While we don’t know for sure what causes this skin growths, they have been associated with excess estrogen and copper, bromide toxicity, and a vitamin C deficiency leading to weakened blood vessel walls. They have been observed in pregnancy and with immune system suppression including chemotherapy. Also of note, a significant presence of human herpes virus 8 has been detected in cherry angiomas. The red color is due to broken blood vessels inside the angioma and any trauma to that area of skin may cause significant bleeding.

Even though they seem innocuous, cherry angiomas may be an early warning sign that something is amiss. Their location may be helpful in determining which organs are affected:

• On the abdomen may indicate liver or hormonal problems
• Near the hairline area or on the head may indicate a potential risk of stroke or aneurysm

It is important to check your skin for these tiny red spots and pay attention to what they are telling us so we can make the appropriate changes to optimize our health!