Strawberry red hemangiomas grow rapidly, and particularly those near the eye should be followed carefully by a dermatologist. A small early hemangioma on the left cheek. The face, neck, and scalp are typical locations for hemangiomas.
Share |

Strawberry Hemangioma (Infantile Hemangioma)  A parent's guide for infants and babies

Picture of Strawberry Hemangioma (Infantile Hemangioma): Strawberry red hemangiomas grow rapidly, and particularly those near the eye should be followed carefully by a dermatologist. Divider line
Strawberry red hemangiomas grow rapidly, and particularly those near the eye should be followed carefully by a dermatologist.
left arrow
right arrow
Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Most hemangiomas do not require any treatment. However, for those that are located in the child's airway or those that threaten eyesight, treatment is necessary to slow down the growth. Your infant's doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid. About 30% of hemangiomas will respond to the steroid and cause the growth of the hemangioma to slow down significantly, but it will not make it go away. For those hemangiomas that do not respond to an oral corticosteroid, the physician may prescribe another medication called interferon. This drug has a response rate of up to 70% but can also have adverse side effects. In the case of a severe hemangioma that does not respond to any medical therapy, radiation or surgical removal may be necessary. If you are worried about cosmetic appearance of the color later in your child's life, he/she may be able to have laser therapy to help fade the color.


Prev: Self-Care Guidelines | References/Trusted Links Next:
Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
skinmatters blog, skin health and skin care advice from experts
skin condition finder, over 170 skin conditions and thousands of medical pictures
ask the doctor, skin care questions from visitors, responses from experts