Hemangioma

Index

1. What is a hemangioma?
2. Can hemangiomas disappear on their own?
3. What causes hemangiomas?
4. How is a hemangioma treated?
5. What type of specialist treats a hemangioma?

What is a hemangioma?

A hemangioma is a type of birthmark that forms from a collection of blood vessels just under the skin. It is often referred to as a “strawberry mark” because of its reddish color and texture.

Hemangiomas can be superficial or deep. A superficial hemangioma is simply a raised red area on the surface of the skin, while a deep hemangioma involves swollen blood vessels deeper in the skin that can cause the skin to have a bluish tint.

Hemangiomas can vary in size and can develop anywhere on the body. They are very common and affect about 5% of infants.

A hemangioma is quite common in newborns.

Can hemangiomas disappear on their own?

Hemangiomas tend to increase in size rapidly during the first six months, but most will begin to decrease in size progressively. They tend to disappear by the age of seven years.

Because of this, treatment for hemangiomas is usually not recommended, but may be considered if the hemangioma is due to:

• Extremely rapid development.
• Growing near the eye and beginning to interfere with vision.
• Growing near the nose and causing breathing difficulties.
• Growing near the mouth and making it difficult to eat.
• Causing the surrounding skin to deform or stretch.
• Formation of an ulcer.

In these situations it would be advisable to consult a specialist in Dermatology.

What causes hemangiomas?

It is not clear what causes hemangiomas but they could be the result of placental tissue in early pregnancy. There does not appear to be any genetic link; having another relative with a hemangioma does not increase the chances of a child developing one.

How is a hemangioma treated?

• If the hemangioma is ulcerated, the doctor will probably recommend medication to relieve pain and offer advice on how to wash and bandage the area to prevent it from becoming infected. If it has become infected, antibiotics may be necessary.
• If the hemangioma is near the eye, lips, or diaper area, it can usually be treated with a medication called propranolol, which should cause the birthmark to shrink. Sometimes steroids or vincristine are used as alternatives when propranolol does not work.
• Laser treatment is generally recommended when the birthmark has stopped shrinking or if it is located in the airway and causing breathing difficulties. It can also be an effective treatment to reduce the redness of the birthmark.

Finally, plastic surgery may be helpful if the skin around the birthmark is stretched or deformed and you want to improve its appearance.

What type of specialist treats the hemangioma?

There are a variety of specialists who may be involved in treating the hemangioma, depending on where the birthmark is located. Laser treatment may be performed by a dermatologist, while surgery to improve the skin is performed by a plastic surgeon.

If the laser treatment involves work on the airway, treatment may involve a pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon. Finally, if the hemangioma is affecting the eye, it may require the attention of an ophthalmologist.