Hemangiomas of Infancy

Hemangiomas of infancy are vascular birth marks, sometimes referred to as a “strawberry mark” that emerge during an infant’s first year of life and are the most common type of hemangioma. They appear red in color due to the excess blood vessels in the skin, and are commonly found on the face, scalp, chest or back – they can present in the top layers of the skin (capillary) or deeper in the skin (cavernous). Hemangiomas are usually harmless and typically disappear on their own as the child ages at a rate of approximately 10% per year involution.

While not common, some hemangiomas may require treatment if they bleed, or are positioned in a way that interferes with vision, breathing or hearing. If this is suspected, imaging tests may be performed. Treatment options are aimed at reducing blood flow and shrinking blood vessels of the hemangioma:

• Lasers

• Steroid creams and topicals

• Oral and topical beta-blockers