What is a hemangioma?
A hemangioma is a harmless growth of extra blood vessels in the skin. It usually appears in the first weeks after birth, grows quickly for several months, then slowly shrinks over the following years.
What parents notice
- A bright red patch or soft raised lump, sometimes bluish if it lies deeper.
- Fast growth in the first months.
- Many fade a great deal by school age.
See a doctor early if
- It is near the eye, nose, mouth or ear, or in the nappy area.
- It bleeds, forms a sore, or grows very fast.
- There are several on the skin.
Treatment
Most small hemangiomas only need watching. When one threatens vision, breathing or feeding, or keeps ulcerating, a specialist can start medicine to shrink it. Surgery or laser is used for what remains afterwards, or for selected lesions. The plan depends on the site, size and age of your baby.
Common questions
Will it go away?
Most shrink on their own over years, but some leave extra skin or a faint mark.
Should I wait?
Have it checked early, because the first months decide whether treatment is needed.
This page is for general information for parents. Every child is different: after examination and tests, an experienced paediatric surgeon decides the condition and the method of treatment. So for any problem, please consult a registered paediatric surgeon.