Learn About Spider Angioma
Spider angioma is an abnormal collection of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
Nevus araneus; Spider telangiectasia; Vascular spider; Spider nevus; Arterial spiders
Spider angiomas are very common. They often occur in pregnant women and in people with liver disease. They can appear in both children and adults. They get their name because the mark looks similar to a red spider.
They appear most often on the face, neck, upper part of the trunk, arms, and fingers.
The main symptom is a blood vessel spot that:
- May have a red dot in the center
- Has reddish extensions that reach out from the center
- Disappears when pressed on and comes back when pressure is released
In rare cases, bleeding occurs in a spider angioma.
Spider angiomas usually do not need treatment, but burning (electrocautery) or laser treatment is sometimes done.
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital
Andrew Kim is a Dermatologist in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Dr. Kim is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spider Angioma. His top areas of expertise are Telangiectasia, Spider Angioma, Actinic Keratosis, and Basal Cell Skin Cancer.
Derrick Adams is a Dermatologist in Lincoln, California. Dr. Adams is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spider Angioma. His top areas of expertise are Telangiectasia, Spider Angioma, Universal Acquired Melanosis, and Liver Spots. Dr. Adams is currently accepting new patients.
Margaret S Lally MD
Margaret Lally is a Dermatologist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Lally is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spider Angioma. Her top areas of expertise are Actinic Keratosis, Warts, Seborrheic Keratosis, and Rosacea.
Spider angiomas in children may disappear after puberty, and often disappear after a woman gives birth. Untreated, spider angiomas tend to last in adults.
Treatment is often successful.
Let your provider know if you have a new spider angioma so they can check for other related medical conditions.
Published Date: October 13, 2024
Published By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Martin KL. Vascular anomalies. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 691.