A haemangioma is actually a tumour and can grow rapidly, however, it is harmless and will usually go away on its own. — TNS
A haemangioma, also known as a strawberry birthmark, is a bright red birthmark that shows up in the first or second week of life.
It looks like a rubbery bump and is made up of extra blood vessels in the skin.
Mayo Clinic paediatric dermatologist Dr Megha Tollefson says they’re technically tumours, but parents shouldn’t let that name or their stark appearance worry them.
“They’re actually the most common tumour of infancy, happening anywhere from one in 20 to one in 50 babies.
“They are just a collection of blood vessels that grows in the first part of a baby’s life,” she says.
They’re more common among babies born preterm.
And they can appear anywhere on the body, but commonly involve the head and neck areas.
Another feature that might alarm parents is the rapid rate of growth.
Dr Tollefson says that haemangiomas will continue to grow until children are about six to nine months old.
At that point, they typically stabilise, then go away slowly.
“About 90% of haemangiomas resolve – or involute, is what we call it – by age four.
“So it’s a pretty slow process,” she explains.
Treatment isn’t usually needed.
However, Dr Tollefson says if the haemangioma interferes with vision, other body functions, has the potential to be cosmetically disfiguring, is large or is growing rapidly, then babies should be evaluated for treatment.
“There are really two main treatments that we use now.
“The gold standard of treatment for a baby that needs a medicine by mouth is a heart medicine called propranolol.
“That type of medicine is called a beta blocker.
“There’s also a topical form of that medicine, and there are some babies for whom that might be appropriate.”
Later in life, laser surgery may be an option to treat residual haemangiomas.
But she says that is not always needed. – By DeeDee Stiepan/Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
