A hemangioma is a type of birthmark. It develops shortly after birth, usually on the head or neck.
A hemangioma is a cluster of blood vessels that do not form properly. It is not known what causes this to happen.
Things that raise a baby's risk of a hemangioma are:
A hemangioma that is close to the skin surface:
A hemangioma that is deeper under the skin—looks like a bluish swelling
Some large hemangiomas may lead to:
The doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Diagnosis may be based on the physical exam. The doctor may advise testing to rule out other problems.
Imaging tests can look at the hemangioma and nearby structures. These may include:
Most hemangiomas will go away on their own. The mark usually fades by age 5. It is often gone by puberty.
If the hemangioma is causing problems, the doctor may advise treatment. Options may be:
There are no current guidelines to prevent hemangiomas.
American Academy of Dermatology
https://www.aad.org
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation
http://www.birthmark.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Canadian Dermatology Association
http://www.dermatology.ca
Castrén E, Salminen P, et al. Risk factors and morbidity of infantile haemangioma: preterm birth promotes ulceration. Acta Paediatr. 2016 ;105(8):940-945.
Hemangioma in infants. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hemangioma-in-infants . Accessed February 26, 2021.
Hemangioma. The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation website. Available at: https://birthmark.org/birthmark/hemangioma. Accessed February 26, 2021.
Last reviewed January 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD