A harmless tumour which forms in blood vessels and appears on the skin as a birthmark.
A swelling consisting of a mass of blood vessels. These can be acquired or congenital. The most common of the congenital types is the ‘strawberry naevus’, a capillary-cavernous haemangioma appearing at or soon after birth, which may grow to a large size. Treatment is not usually required, as most of them fade although this may take a few years. Where a haemangioma is disfiguring or interfering with vision or breathing, treatment is necessary: this may be by laser, by using corticosteroids or interferon treatment, or by surgery. The acquired type presents as a red papule which bleeds easily, and treatment is normally by cautery.
Haemangiomas are birthmarks resulting from an abnormal distribution of blood vessels. They can appear as either flat or raised marks on the skin.
Port-wine stains are permanent birthmarks characterized by large, flat, purple-red marks that can be visually unappealing. In some rare instances, these marks may be linked to abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain.
Newborn babies commonly have small, flat marks, often referred to as stork marks or stork bites, especially on the back of their necks. These marks typically start to fade around three weeks after birth.
Bright red haemangiomas, commonly known as strawberry marks, are raised and tend to enlarge rapidly during the first few weeks after birth. However, they typically fade away completely without leaving a scar by the time a child reaches five to seven years old.
Haemangiomas generally do not necessitate treatment. However, if a haemangioma bleeds persistently or appears unsightly, it may require removal through laser treatment, cryosurgery (tissue destruction by extreme cold), radiotherapy, embolization (blood flow obstruction to the tissue), or plastic surgery.