A hemangioma (say he-man-gee-oh-ma) is a growth on the skin which is made up of blood vessels.  It often appears as a purple or red, raised spot on the skin.  Hemangiomas are often called birthmarks.  Some appear at birth but most appear during the first few weeks of life.  Hemangiomas are the most common type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor in infants.  Between 4% and 10% of infants have at least one hemangioma.  They affect girls 3 times more often than boys and occur more frequently in Caucasian infants.  The incidence of hemangiomas may be as high as 25% in premature infants with a low birth weight.  About 80% are found on the head and neck while 20% appear on the rest of the body.

What causes Hemangiomas?

The cause of these birthmarks is not known.  We do know that they are not the result of the diet, the actions or the environment of either parent during the time of conception or pregnancy.  Some parents worry that they did something wrong to cause the birthmark.  We want to assure you that you are not to blame for your child's birthmark.

What should I know about Hemangiomas?

All hemangiomas go through a growth and shrinking cycle.  The growth phase (called the proliferation phase) happens during the first one and a half years.  During this time, the birthmark will go through times of both growth and rest.  Each hemangioma is unique and will have its own timetable for growing and resting.  No one can predict how large the birthmark may grow.  Some are so small that you can hardly see them while others can be very large.

By the end of the first one and a half years, growth is complete and the longer process of shrinking starts (called the involution phase).  In this phase the birthmark slowly becomes smaller, gets softer to the touch and fades to a dull purple.  The length of time a hemangioma takes to shrink varies, but we can offer you some guidelines.  By 5 years of age, 50% of hemangiomas complete their shrinking phase and by 7 years of age, 70% resolve.  Some birthmarks will take 3 or 5 years longer to complete their shrinking phase.

It is hard to predict what each child's birthmark will look like at the end of the shrinking phase.  Some fade a great deal and others much less.  You should keep in mind that even those birthmarks which fade a great deal might need some treatment to complete the healing process.

What is the Treatment for Hemangiomas?

Over 90% of hemangiomas never cause a problem and need no treatment.  A small number may need treatment right away due to the location and size of the birthmark.  These include hemangiomas that are obstructing organs such as breathing, vision or hearing or that distort facial features.

There are 3 types of treatment for Hemangiomas:

Drug Therapy

Steroids or Alpha-Interferon can sometimes stop the growth phase of the hemangioma and start the shrinking phase.

Laser Surgery

A strong beam of light goes through the skin and destroys the abnormal blood vessels with out hurting the other structures of the skin.

Surgery

Plastic surgery can replace the hemangioma with an acceptable scar.

The success of treatment depends upon such factors as your child's age and the birthmark's phase of growth or shrinking.  You and your child's doctor will choose the best plan of care for your child.