Strawberry Hemangioma?

ashleybt

DD has two strawberry hemangiomas - one on the inside of her lip, and a larger one on her upper back. The one on her back has grown to about the size of a quarter, and her doctor is now getting concerned and is suggesting we see a specialist to see about getting it lasered off.  Has anyone else's LO had this? I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of having the procedure done. From what I've been reading, they usually go away on their own however there is a risk that it could rupture...and I obviously don't want to chance it rupturing. But then again, I'm not sure how likely that is to happen...

LauraSmarterSpam

Dom has a strawberry mark on his arm.  His pediatrician said it will grow with him, and they usually fade away by the time a child is about 6 years old.

It started as a little flat spot when he was in the NICU at 3lbs 13oz:

 

This is what it looks like now:

 

ashleybt

He's ADORABLE!! Hers started out about the size his is now. I'm hoping it doesn't keep growing. She flinches anytime it is touched and it's right about where your hand would go when picking her up. Does it bother him at all?

LauraSmarterSpam

I don't think it really bothers him that much, but it isn't where anyone is putting too much pressure on it.  I bet if it were where hers is, it would probably bother him because it is raised.  I would imagine their strawberry mark getting pressed flat is almost like them getting poked. 

I don't know if that makes any sense.  My mind is always trying to make comparisons so I can try to understand.  My boss's housekeeper has a daughter who had a strawberry mark that was essentially a patch on her leg.  She said it was very large and now (she's 11) it looks like her skin is just slightly more tan there and it isn't raised.

I hope that helps!

MrsJetSet

I had one as a baby on the top of my head.  It was there until my brother shoved me out of our wagon and I landed on it. (Thanks big bro). Then it went away.  Obviously my hair has grown over the spot so I don't know if you can see anything or not.  I have some friends who had them and like pp said - it just looks like a more tan spot.  If it is bothering dc, then I would think about lasering.  Otherwise I would probably just watch and see what happens.

kmhunt11

They are supposed to get bigger and darker for the first year and then fade by age 5 or so. DD1 had a quarter sized one on her elbow that did just that. Now I usually can't see it at all. I'd ask another pediatrician before seeing a specialist. 

wordslikeswords

DD has one in her "diaper area". It's really raised up and big. It seems to have stopped growing. I was told they should stop growing around 3 months and then start to fade. Has been true here.

ashleybt

Thanks for all the feedback ladies! I'm going to take her to a dermatologist next week just to get an additional opinion. Thanks again!

cmsdouglas

DD has one next to/on her nipple that grew to about the size of half a ping pong ball.  We went to see a pediatric dermatologist and he prescribed propranolol (a heart medication when used in higher doses).  It is helping a lot!  The superficial part of her hemangioma is still large, but it is shrinking.  The deep part has pretty much gone away.  We asked the dermatologist about the safety and he assured us that in the small doses DD is getting it is very safe.  Hopefully the laser surgery isn't necessary!