Hemangioma is common in infants and is usually not serious.
A hemangioma is a benign cluster of blood vessels. A hemangioma can occur at just about any time and sometimes will shrink on its own. On infants hemangiomas are often called birthmarks. Hemangiomas can appear anywhere on the skin, but they can also be internal. Treatment can consist of steroids, lasers or surgery. Treatment is encouraged, especially if the growth changes or grows dramatically.
Instructions
1. Seek medical attention to get the hemangioma examined for abnormality. Observe the hemangioma for a couple of months to see if it changes in shape, size or color. Continue to get the hemangioma checked by a physician, especially if it changes or grows.
2. Discuss your treatment options with your physician. Your doctor may advise you to consider oral or systemic steroid treatment to slow growth of the hemangioma. Oral or systemic steroids are often used to treat physically impairing hemangiomas, as well as those on sensitive areas of the body.
3. Ask your doctor about pulsed dye laser treatment to shrink and reduce the redness of the hemangioma. Laser treatment can also heal hemangiomas that have opened.
4. Investigate surgery to remove the hemangioma. Surgery achieves the best results of all of the treatment options.
