Hemangioma
What is Hemangioma ?
A hemangioma (he-man-jee-O-muh), also known as an infantile hemangioma or hemangioma of infancy, is a bright red birthmark. It looks like a rubbery bump or flat red patch and is made up of extra blood vessels in the skin. The mark shows up at birth or in the first month of life.
A hemangioma typically appears on the face, scalp, chest, or back, though it can be anywhere on the skin. Treatment generally isn’t needed for a baby’s hemangioma, as the mark fades over time. Typically, there is little trace of it by age 10. You may want to think about treatment for the child if a hemangioma leads to problems with vision, breathing, or other bodily functions. You may also think about treatment if the hemangioma is in a cosmetically sensitive area.
Symptoms
- Distinctive Skin Marks
- Rapid Growth of Hemangiomas
- Swelling and Raised Texture
- Color Changes
- Pain or Discomfort
- Functional Problems
- Can cause pain in the upper right abdomen
- May cause back pain or numbness
- Can affect vision development
- Stomach pain
Cause
A hemangioma is made up of extra blood vessels that group together into a dense clump. What causes the vessels to clump isn’t known.
Risk Factors
Several potential risk factors can make hemangiomas more likely to affect you. Age. Hemangiomas typically affect newborns and infants, especially between 2 weeks old and 2 months old. Development at birth. Up to 1 in 5 premature babies will develop a hemangioma. Sex. Hemangiomas are up to four times more likely to affect females. Skin color. Hemangiomas are more common in people with lighter skin. Other health issues. Some conditions are likely to cause hemangiomas. Examples include PHACE syndrome or von Hippel-Lindau disease.
When to see a Doctor
Your child’s health care provider will check the hemangioma during routine visits. Contact your child’s health care provider if the hemangioma bleeds, forms a sore or looks infected. Seek medical care if the condition causes problems with an important bodily function, such as your child’s vision, breathing, hearing or ability to go to the bathroom.