Strawberry Hemangioma on Infants

Strawberry hemangioma is the term for a red birthmark often found on infants and children.  The Children’s Hospital of Boston estimates that between four and ten percent of light-skinned infants develop a strawberry hemangioma.  They are found most prevalently on newborn girls, at a rate of three to five times higher than the rate at which males are affected.

Strawberry Hemangioma on infants is characterized by a collection of hardened blood vessels just below the surface of the skin.  There is no definitive cause of strawberry Hemangioma on infants with no known controllable risk factors increasing an infant’s odds of developing one.

In many cases, strawberry hemangioma on infants can look malicious, but it is usually nothing to worry about.  They usually cause no pain or functional difficulties.  According to the Mayo Clinic, most strawberry hemangiomas will typically shrink and fade over time.  In the rare case that a hemangioma is located in an area that interferes with vision or other physical functions, your child’s doctor may proceed with a treatment plan.

According to the National Institutes of Health, nine out of ten strawberry hemangiomas totally disappear by the age of nine.  Most of them are completely harmless, though in rare cases they can be problematic.  For hemangiomas that interfere with function or otherwise cause problems for a child, there are a few treatment options.

The two most frequently applied treatments for problematic strawberry hemangiomas are laser surgery and corticosteroids.  Laser surgery can be used to either remove a hemangioma or stunt its growth.  This is not used on cases where treatment is unnecessary because it comes with a number of potential risks.  Side-effects can include infection, disfigurement of the skin in the area of the growth, and pain.

Corticosteroids may be injected directly into a hemangioma or taken orally.  As with laser surgery, steroid treatments are not applied for strawberry hemangiomas that do not cause problems because with this treatment comes several risks.  These risks can involve growth problems related to steroid use and hypertension.  Newer and developing treatments for problematic hemangiomas include the use of beta blockers, and on rare occasion embolization.

Strawberry hemangiomas on infants and children are fairly common and they are usually nothing to worry about.  Treatment is almost always unnecessary and would cause more harm than good, though occasionally a hemangioma may be too large or poorly located, causing complications.  If you ever have any questions or concerns about strawberry hemangioma on infants, talk to your doctor.

References:

“Hemangioma.”  Children’s Hospital Boston.

“Hemangioma.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.