Strawberry hemangiomas

Dawn5481 · October 2014

The senior pediatrician finally made the diagnosis after I was repeatedly brushed off and told it was just a simple port wine stain on DD's left hand. I had done a little research after she was born to look at different birthmarks and their causes, as I was pretty ignorant on the subject. Since then, I knew it wasn't what they were calling it and pointed it out at every appointment. Anyways, we are now being referred to a dermatologist for potential laser treatment. My own research found that usually these things get really big over the first two years of life but then slowly disappear on their own between 5-10 years of age, leaving discoloration of the skin. I was a little surprised that the pedi was immediately suggesting laser treatment, but I'll obviously wait for the dermatologist to confirm the need for it. Anyone else have experience with strawberry hemangiomas either personally or secondhand? Nurses that want to give me their two cents?

rstarrlemaitre · October 2014

My nephew has one on his arm. I believe my sister used a steroid cream to fade it - no laser treatment was mentioned; that does sound like an aggressive first course of action.

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

They typically go away on their own by age 5 without treatment and without leaving much of a mark. There are different treatments including surgery, laser, and medication and they depend on whether it's an area that will get traumatized and bleed, very large, or cosmetically sensitive. A dermatologist should be able to determine the best treatment if any treatment is necessary.

KarenC806 · October 2014

I actually had one as a child! My was on the inside of my left wrist. My mom said it did get bigger but the only memory I have is of it being the shape of an actual strawberry! It slowly faded and I would say was totally gone by the time I was 9 or 10. I doubt they had an option of laser surgery back then, but today you can't tell that I ever had one.

annapunkalunka · October 2014

My youngest sister had one on her belly. My parents were told it would fade and be completely gone by the time she was 5. She's 18 now and it has faded, but is still there.

lckcdc3 · October 2014

DS1 had a vey small one on his torso. The pedi measured it at every appt just to make sure it wasn't getting to much bigger. It did completely go away just after his second birthday.

jendem8 · October 2014

LO has 2. One is pretty big on her belly and the other one is on her temple. The doctor said we'll just keep an eye on them and refer to a dermatologist if needed. He never mentioned a laser but said that medication is being used to shrink them now. My cousin had one on her wrist and it went away on it's own, so I'm not jumping to medicate unless the one on her temple gets really big.

Dawn5481 · October 2014

Thanks guys. I think I'll still take her to the derm peeps for a consult (to make sure it truly is a hemangioma and nothing else), but my guess is that they'll say do nothing....which is what I hope for.

Linxx218 · October 2014

I've never posted here, and browse once in a while, but wanted to share my experience on this one...I have a hemangioma on my face. When I was younger my doctor said it would get worse, but as I've gotten older it's gotten lighter. I've had several laser surgeries to remove it for cosmetic reasons. The treatments lightened it, but the process was slow so I stopped a few years ago. If it wasn't on my face I wouldn't have even tried to remove it. I hope your baby's gets lighter on its own!

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