Sometimes, a bright red or bluish patch appears on a baby's face or body. This is an infant hemangioma, which occurs in one out of every ten infants [1].
Hemangiomas are rarely noticed at birth. They typically appear in the first month of life, lasting three to four weeks, and can grow quickly. Deep subcutaneous hemangiomas may not appear for about two months [2].
What should I look for?
First, you will notice a red spot on the skin. It does not itch or seem to bother the baby, so it can be easily overlooked.
The next stage is active growth. The red spot gradually grows, becomes raised, and brightens. In 80% of cases, this growth phase lasts three to five months [1], but it can last for up to a year. Following this, the hemangioma enters a resting phase and stops growing.
During the involution stage, the hemangioma loses color and shrinks in size [3]. By the age of four, 60% of children's hemangiomas have cleared up without treatment. By age nine, this number rises to 90% [1].
Are hemangiomas dangerous?
Typically, no. A hemangioma is a benign growth. However, a doctor should examine the area to ensure it is a hemangioma and not another vascular anomaly [2].
The risks differ depending on the location of the hemangioma [3].
High risk areas: Near the eyes, nose, mouth, groin, or lower back. As they grow, they can interfere with seeing, breathing, or feeding. They are also more prone to injury during hygiene procedures or dressing.
Average risk areas: On the face or in body folds. These can be psychologically challenging to accept.
Low risk areas: On the body, arms, and legs.
How to treat hemangiomas?
In 90% of cases, hemangiomas do not need treatment—just monitoring. However, sometimes doctors and parents choose to start treatment rather than waiting for it to go away. This is often because 60% of hemangiomas form on the face, and they are three times more common in girls than boys [2, 3]. This can cause psychological distress for parents, though it usually doesn’t bother the baby.
High-risk hemangiomas are treated to prevent bleeding or impairment of body functions like vision, breathing, or feeding [3].
Oral solutions, such as beta blockers, are regarded as the most effective and safe treatment option. If these do not work, doctors may suggest ointments, local injections, laser therapy, or surgical procedures.
The location, development stage, and potential complications of the hemangioma all influence treatment decisions [1-3].
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