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What Are Hemangiomas and How Are They Treated?

Hemangiomas are the most common birthmark of infancy.

The lesion is usually seen at about 2 weeks of life.
Typically it appears as a pink to light red area on the superficial skin.
The growth phase starts around 2 months of age. The lesion grows rapidly and becomes red and raised until about age 1, when it begins to shrink.
Deeper lesions may be purple in color with the skin being less raised.
Hemangiomas shrink approximately 50 percent by age 5 and nearly 70 percent by age 7.

Visually, the lesions typically fade in color, and the skin takes on a “crepe-paper” look. When the lesions fade and shrink, about 50 percent of children have normal-appearing skin.

Hemangiomas that are large, ulcerated, distort facial structures (eye or nose), or involve the airway, are often treated with a course of oral steroids or propranolol.

Who are more vulnerable to hemangiomas?

Preterm infants are much more likely to have hemangiomas with an incidence of about 23 percent.
Females are more frequently affected than males (3–5 to 1 ratio).
They are seen in approximately 10 percent to 12 percent of Caucasians.

Last Update
December 30, 2010

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