Does anyone have information on cherry angiomas and Babesia? I have always had these small red dots on my skin, I remember having them in college. Always a few here and there, which wasn't surprising due to my parents also having them.
I had two large ones removed at the dermatologist back in 2001. Lately I have been getting more and more of them. On my trunk, chest, and arms. My dermatologist told me that removal is not covered by insurance, so I googled ways to remove them.
I was surprised to find a link between them and Babesia, which I was diagnosed with this year. I am not sure how strong the connection is, however.
I did end up taking a cautery pen and removing dozens of them. Here is hoping they stop with treatment for my babs!
Posted by Told you I was sick (Member # 35068) on :
Hello, Maia_Azure,
You betcha that I have these same little buggers all over the skin on my body. Fortunately, however, they are primarily very small in size. Hundreds of pinprick sized cherry angiomas on just my arms alone. Ecckkk.
I always assumed that it was my Babesia (microti) that put them there, too (I have been IgM and IgG positive via Quest, as well as IGeneX FISH positive).
They are very unsightly marks, and they first developed about 10-15 years ago. Interestingly enough, the very same amount of time upon first experiencing very horrible and disgusting looking spider veins all over my legs (so, a Bartonella infection likely occurred at the same time as the Babs).
I am intrigued by your success using a cautery pen to remove some of your own blemishes. Is this pen something that you bought/own/operate yourself? I'd imagine that the heated tip of the pen is quite hot and uncomfortable? Is it something that you feel safe using in the setting of your own home?
I'd probably have the misfortune of causing add'l damage to my skin. I'd end up with greater size hemorrhages due to poor clotting, or something!
Any more info. or tips that you might share?
I just wanted you to know that you are not alone in this particular regard! You and I, at least, are on the same campaign, lol!
Best to you, and thanks a lot for the openness of your post! Told you...
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Breaking up paragraphs for easier reading for many here -
[ 10-12-2014, 01:15 AM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Some feel cherry angiomas are related to babesia but others feel its a normal process of aging. I tend to agree with the latter. I know many people have these show up as they age and I really doubt they all have them as a result of babesia.
Once I got in my 40's I began to have alot of them as well. Just had a full body check with the Dermatologist. She said totally normal, due to aging, hereditary etc.
Posted by Maia_Azure (Member # 44330) on :
Right, my parents have them and I've always had them. The sheer amount of them I have now is more than my parents have, I see them everywhere now, all small but tons of them. I don't know what to think buts it's pretty excessive.
As for removal, there are you tube videos of people heating the round head of a pin over a lighter and applying it to the angioma after wiping it with alcohol.
I choose to use the pen as I had access to one. It does heat up really hot, and it is a sharp momentary pain. Same as the derms office.
. I don't mind doing it, but you need a steady hand. I usually press the pen tip on the spot for 3 seconds. A week later the scab falls off. I've redone a few that didn't totally get cauterized. No need to pay anyone $200!
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Why would you remove them??? Also I don't think I would follow something off of youtube in a case like this. You could be stting yourself up for injury or infection.
Posted by Maia_Azure (Member # 44330) on :
Oh, because I have dozens of them. They look like unsightly red pimples. I'm not worried about injury or infection.
I removed them for the same reason people remove moles and skin tags. To each his or her own.