It is a benign tumor also known as a red birthmark, caused by an anomaly in blood vessel development. Although it is likely to occur in all body areas, they usually appear on the neck, face, chest, back, and around the eyes of newborns, although it is also possible that they manifest during the first year of life.
Types of hemangioma:
- Capillary: located in the epidermis.
- Cavernous: appears in the dermis.
When hemangiomas appear near the eyes, they often affect eye development, causing vision conditions such as glaucoma and amblyopia, or damage the optic nerve, causing blindness.
Many of these malformations, whose cause is unknown, but are believed to be due to abnormalities in placental proteins, progressively disappear over the years, so more than 90% of them vanish before reaching the age of 10.
Hemangiomas most often attack white premature female babies.
One or several reddish bumps appear that grow rapidly over a few months, increasing in volume and height until they form a resin-like mound that rises above the skin.
Reaching the aforementioned point, it stops growing and begins to gradually decrease in volume over the years until it completely disappears between the ages of five and 10, leaving a depigmented mark with a certain elevation.
As possible complications, a hemangioma may rupture, causing bleeding, pain, and infection, and forming a sore that will leave scar tissue in the affected area.
Depending on where it is located, the hemangioma is capable of causing visual, auditory, or respiratory dysfunctions. For this reason, it is important that your child’s doctor periodically review its evolution to prevent serious complications.
