Seeing a strawberry hemangioma on infants when you have a newborn baby can be alarming, but for many parents it is nothing for any major cause of concern. Sometimes also called a strawberry birthmark, they are actually very common. My daughter was born with one on her stomach right above her belly button, which made me interested in learning more about them. (Once the doctor wrote down and spell out the word “hemangioma” for me of course!) As she gets older we have already noticed it has started to fade away considerably, and expect it to be completely gone before she reaches her third or fourth birthday.

What is a Strawberry Hemangioma?
Basically a hemagioma is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that collect in one spot that causes a red patch on the baby’s skin. They can appear just about anywhere – on the head, face, arms, stomach, legs, feet, etc. Most of them first show up within the first few days or weeks though it can be a few months and then progressively get a little larger for another few months. Typically by the time the baby reaches his or her first birthday the hemagioma will not get any larger and will actually start doing the reverse of fading away and shrinking.

The causes of this condition is relatively unknown still, though it is common. It is slightly more common in fair skinned girl infants and premature babies, though there seems to be no link to genetics or actions that the mother did during pregnancy.

What is the treatment?
For most infants, no treatment is necessary whatsoever. If the strawberry birthmark is in a place that it does not affect their normal development, the doctor will likely take a look at it when they have their periodic check-ups, but often will advise that no treatment is needed. There are a few cases however when a hemangioma must be treated, such as when it poses a threat to the baby growing and developing. For example, if the mark is extremely large in size it may be necessary to shrink it, especially if it is being scratched or risks becoming infected. Others that appear in places such as the ears, eyes, throat, or internally can be a cause for concern for both parents and doctors alike.

Fortunately, there are many different options available for treatment if it is believed to be necessary. Steroids, either taken orally or injected into the birthmark directly can often reduce the size and swelling without the need to surgically remove them. If this is unsuccessful, then laser surgery may be needed to remove or reduce the size of it. If your child needs treatment, speaking to your doctor will help you understand the best way to remove it as well as discuss the benefits and risks to the different ways to treat it.

Now you know everything you need to know about a strawberry hemangioma on infants! If you have a story to share about your kids, feel free to leave it in the comments below.