Strawberry Hemangioma on Infants:

Q: A few weeks after our daughter was born, we noticed a large red birthmark on her cheek. Our pediatrician said it was a strawberry hemangioma and wasn't worried, but we are. Is this a dangerous condition and will this strawberry hemangioma on our infant ever get better? We are worried because it seems to be getting bigger.

A: A strawberry hemangioma is another term for a birth mark or infant tumor. Although it is technically a tumor, it is not cancerous in nature. Strawberry hemangiomas are made up of a collection of tiny blood vessels and occur more often in infant Caucasian females. In the majority of cases, a strawberry hemangioma on an infant takes a few weeks to become evident. When it does, worried parents usually rush into their pediatricians office looking for answers.

Unfortunately, most of these benign strawberry hemangiomas continue to grow in size throughout the first year of the infant's life. During this period of rapid growth, new parents can become increasingly worried and embarrassed, especially if the strawberry hemangioma appears on the infant's face. Luckily, after this period of intense growth, the red color of the birthmark begins to fade and by the time most children are 7 years old, the strawberry hemangioma has completely disappeared.

While the majority of infants and children with strawberry hemangiomas have no complications, a few do. In some rare situations, a poorly positioned strawberry hemangioma on an infant can grow and obstruct the vision or even breathing. Hemangiomas on the eyelids can be especially significant because while the vision is blocked, vision problems can occur which may lead to a lifetime of eyesight troubles.

If there is a high risk for complications, your pediatrician may decide to treat the strawberry hemangioma. Oral Steroids are usually are the first course of treatment most pediatricians prefer. If steroids fail to shrink the strawberry hemangioma's growth, laser therapy may be tried. However, it is important to remember that the majority of infants who have strawberry hemangiomas never need any treatment and never experience any complications.

Even if your infant's appearance is unsettling for you, it is important to remember that this condition is temporary and will usually resolve by the time your child is 5-7 years old. Do not attempt to massage or rub the strawberry hemangioma in an attempt to make it go away. This will only cause more bleeding and can set your infant up for scarring as they age. If you are especially concerned with the appearance or condition of the strawberry hemangioma on your infant, talk with your pediatrician and voice your concerns.

Strawberry Hemangioma Facts:

• Strawberry Hemangiomas on infants are benign tumors made up of tiny blood vessels

• Most strawberry hemangiomas do not appear until a few weeks after birth

• Strawberry Hemangiomas occur more often in infant females than in infant males

• Strawberry hemangiomas occur more often in Caucasian infants than in other racial groups

• The majority of strawberry hemangiomas occur as a solitary mark

• Growth is most rapid during the first year

• 50% of strawberry hemangiomas disappear completely by the age of 5, 70% are gone by the age of 7.