The Treatment for a Strawberry Hemangioma on the Face of an Infant

Strawberry hemangiomas are a collection of extra blood vessels that sometimes form on the surface of the skin. Hemangiomas are usually not dangerous unless they interfere with body functions such as breathing and eating.

Significance

• According to Dr. Greene, about 1 out of every 50 babies develops a hemangioma, and they occur more commonly in girls. Hemangiomas usually appear when the child is between 3 and 5 weeks old.

Features

• Strawberry hemangiomas are usually purple or red. They are raised and soft to the touch. They may continue to grow for a while, but will eventually begin to disappear and are usually gone before the age of 5 or 6.

Non-Surgical Treatments

• Strawberry hemangiomas may be treated with medicines that help to shrink the hemangioma.

Surgical Treatments

• Strawberry hemangiomas may be removed surgically or may be treated with laser removal.

Considerations

• Most hemangiomas will resolve themselves over time and will not require any treatment. However, if the hemangioma is interfering with vision, hearing, breathing or eating, more aggressive treatment will be needed.