A hemangioma is a medical disorder that causes abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs.
A hemangioma is a group of blood vessels that develop like a lump under the skin
It has been called a 'strawberry mark' as it appears like the surface of a strawberry.
Superficial hemangiomas are normally raised, red areas of skin, which are warm because the blood vessels are near the surface.
They can look at first like a small area of pale skin where a red spot forms.
Deep hemangiomas are blue in color because the blood vessels of the hemagioma are deeper in the skin.
About 33% of hemangiomas are present at birth.
Hemangiomas are mostly genetic in nature.
They may be inherited as in families as an autosomal dominant trait.
Symptoms of a hemangioma are:
A red to reddish-purple, raised lesion (patch) on the skin
A massive, raised, benign tumor with blood vessels
There are various forms:
Capillary nevus - this is a salmon-pink patch observed on the neck in up to 40% of infants.
It may not disappear, but is frequently covered by hair.
Facial patches are likely to fade in the first year of life.
Port-wine stain - this is a patch lined with endothelial cells and containing blood vessels.
The compression test is helpful, or the hemangioma can be observed with a dermatoscope (an instrument which helps in close examination of the skin) and the blood-filled cavities seen.
They can be distinguished by excision biopsy.
Most of the small not complicated hemangiomas may not require treatment.
They frequently go away on their own and the skin appearance goes back to normal.
Port-wine stains can be normally treated by camouflage
Propranolol assists the tightening of blood vessels and decreases the blood flow through them, making hemangiomas become smaller and less red.
Superficial hemangiomas can be efficaciously treated with a laser, which shrinks up blood vessels with heat and light.
Surgery can remove the more complex hemangiomas, but it may lead to scarring
Bleomycin injections into the hemangioma are efficacious.