Does your baby have a red spot on his skin that looks like a strawberry? Is it a Strawberry Hemangioma?

The greatest joy for a mother or father with a newborn baby is to gaze at that little face with love. But what if suddenly something like a small red dot appears on the baby's skin, maybe even on the face? What if after a few days it turns the color of a strawberry and becomes a little round? Everyone gets a little scared, right? "What is this? Is this something dangerous? Why did this happen to my baby?" Many questions come to mind. That's what we are going to talk about today, very simply, in a way that you can understand.

What exactly is this Strawberry Hemangioma?

Simply put, this is a condition where many tiny blood vessels have joined together and formed a lump under the skin. This causes the skin to appear red and sometimes slightly raised. It is called a "Strawberry Hemangioma" because it looks like a small strawberry.

Many people think of this as a "birthmark" when they see it. But it's actually a little different than a birthmark. Medically speaking, this is a small, non-cancerous (benign) tumor. But don't be afraid of the word "tumor," this is not cancer. It's not something dangerous like that. Some people also call it a ``vascular birthmark''.

The amazing thing about this is that this tumor grows a little during the baby's first year, then shrinks and disappears on its own without any treatment. In about 10% of babies, it disappears by the time they reach their first birthday. In about 90% of the others, it has almost completely disappeared by the time they are 10 years old.

These are usually not visible at birth. They start to appear in the first few days or months of life. They can develop anywhere on the body, but are most commonly seen on the head and face. They may grow rapidly for a while after they first appear. But then they shrink again and eventually disappear.

How common are these?

This condition is more common than you might think. On average, about one in 10 newborns will develop a hemangioma. That means it's not that unusual. Some babies may even have more than one.

Are there types of hemangiomas?

Yes, there are several main types. This classification is based on the depth at which it occurs.

Do adults get these too?

Yes, these types of blood vessel tumors can occur in adults as well. But then we call them `(Cherry Angioma)`.

These are red, round spots that look like cherries. Some are smooth, some are slightly raised. They usually appear on the body after the age of 30, especially on areas like the chest and abdomen. They are also called ``senile angiomas'' because they are very common with age. Unlike infantile hemangiomas, they do not go away. They can grow more as you get older. If you are concerned about their appearance, you can have them removed by a dermatologist.

Why do babies get spots like this? What is the cause?

The exact cause of this has not yet been found. Many parents wonder, "Is this because of something I did during pregnancy?" That's not the case at all.

Doctors believe that when blood vessels and cells near a baby's skin don't develop properly, they instead clump together and form a small lump. That's what this hemangioma is.

Who is at higher risk of developing these?

Although any baby can develop this, there are some factors that slightly increase the risk.

• Being a girl: Girls are two to three times more likely to develop these than boys.
• Low birth weight:For babies weighing less than 5 ½ pounds at birth.
• Being twins: For babies like twins and triplets.
• Premature birth: A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
• Being white: This is most common among white children.

How does this spot change over time?

Most often, this hemangioma appears within the first month of a baby's birth. It may first appear as a small scratch or a small blister. Then , during the baby's first 4 to 6 months, it grows quite rapidly.

After this growth stops (usually before the age of 1 year), it gradually begins to shrink. It may then lose its red color and turn gray or white. Some children may feel some pain during this shrinking period. In most children, the mole has almost completely disappeared by the age of 10.

Do I need treatment? What treatments are available?

Most of the time, this doesn't require any treatment. Since it goes away on its own , doctors say to give it time. However, in some special cases, doctors recommend starting treatment sooner.

In such cases, the doctor may suggest the following treatments:

• Beta-blockers: These can be taken orally (like propranolol) or applied topically (like timolol). These constrict blood vessels and shrink the tumor.
• Laser treatments: Using laser beams to shrink the tumor or remove remaining scars.
• Surgical removal: In some rare cases, surgery may be required to remove the tumor.

Can this cause complications?

Most hemangiomas go away without any harm. However, very rarely, some can cause problems, especially depending on where they are located.

• If they form near the eye: These can press on the eyeball and affect vision. They also increase the risk of conditions such as glaucoma or lazy eye/amblyopia.
• If they form inside the mouth: Those that form inside or around the mouth can spread to the airway and interfere with breathing and eating.
• Bleeding and infection: The skin over a hemangioma is very thin, so if you get a little too hard or scratched, it can bleed. These wounds also take a long time to heal, so there is a risk of infection.
• Psychological impact: A hemangioma, especially one that is large on the face, can affect a child's self-confidence. When other children tease them, the child may do poorly in school, show behavioral changes, and become depressed.

What time do you want to see your doctor?

This is usually observed by the doctor at the baby's clinic. However, if you notice any of the following, be sure to tell your doctor.

• If the hemangioma is near the eye, mouth, or nose .
• If there is more than one in the body.
• If it is injured and not healing .
• If the wound is red, swollen, warm, or oozing pus-like fluid (these are signs of infection).

When you go to see the doctor, don't hesitate to ask these questions:

• "Doctor, is it better to treat this, or wait for it to go away on its own ?"
• "If treated, what treatment is best for my baby?"
• "What are the possible side effects of the treatment?"
• "What are the symptoms of complications I should be especially concerned about?"

Finally, strawberry hemangioma is a common and harmless condition in babies. Most of the time, it goes away on its own without any treatment. By the time the child is 10 years old, it is almost completely gone.