Our skin is the organ of the body that is the most visible witness of what we live, how we take care of ourselves and the passage of time. Precisely because of its exposure, it is one of the most sensitive to injuries caused by elements external to us. And, although we sometimes forget it, it requires a lot of care.
It is usual for spots or different lesions to appear on the skin, including those red dots known as “ruby dots”. If we have had them we know what we mean. We have spoken with Guillermo Melgar ( @farmaenfurecida ), community pharmacist and author of This pharmacy is across about what they are, why they appear and how we can treat them.
What are “ruby dots” or red dots that appear on the skin
From the look of these red dots, they may look like dots that contain blood. In reality, according to Guillermo Melgar, they are: “a type of benign skin lesion associated with age. The medical term for them is ‘senile angioma’. They appear as small reddish, pinpoint lesions.”
They are also known as ‘Morgan’s Campbell Points’. According to research indicated by María Elena Arnáiz-García and her team, it would be the most frequent form of angiomas that exist. As this author specifies, they were first described by British surgeon Campbell de Morgan in the 19th century, hence their name.
Although they can appear at any time in life, and it is possible that most of us have one at some point, the usual thing is that they appear from the age of 30. According to the Arnáiz-García investigation: “from the fifth decade on, practically all people have this type of injury in greater or lesser numbers.”
What are the causes of the appearance of ruby points
The etiology of the ruby points remains unclear at the moment, but there are several possible causes. According to Guillermo, “it seems that they have a certain genetic predisposition and, in general, they appear spontaneously with age. Other causes of their appearance are exposure to certain chemicals or some systemic diseases.”
Furthermore, as the research by María Elena Arnáiz-García indicates, there are different alterations in the mechanisms of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis that can influence the local appearance of these angiomas. In addition to what Melgar tells us, stress can also be another factor that contributes to its appearance.
How are these red spots or “senile angioma” on the skin treated?
The main problem with senile angiomas is that we may not like them aesthetically too much. However, as Melgar indicates: “as they are benign lesions, their treatment is optional .” In any case, if we choose to try to remove or treat it, there are several options.
The pharmacist tells us that: “the treatment for its elimination is quite specific: electrocoagulation, cryotherapy or the application of laser or pulsed light help to eliminate the lesions.”
If we decide to do it, Melgar tells us that these treatments help eliminate injuries permanently. So, if they are too unsightly or bothersome, we can trust that the treatment will help us eliminate them.