If you notice a rapidly growing red spot on your infant, it could be an infantile hemangioma, which is a reddish skin tumor that is usually noticed by one month of age. I’ll discuss what an infantile hemangioma is all about.
First let me say that with any information that you find on the Internet, that this post isn’t meant to be used to diagnose any conditions. That is best done by your pediatrician. Having said that, I feel that it is always helpful to be aware of medical conditions that may affect your child.
Infantile hemangiomas may start out as a simple red spot that then grows rapidly. They are often, but not always, found on the face or trunk. They are non-cancerous tumors that usually resolve on their own by the age of nine. While they are disturbing from a cosmetic sense, most of these tumors do not require treatment.
According to a study done at the University of California, San Francisco, most infantile hermangiomas reach their maximize size by five months of age and their maximum growth by nine months of age. By 18 months of age, most infantile hermangiomas that afect only the upper layers of skin start to resolve themselves. In a minority of the cases, however, deeper hermangiomas continue to grow.
Most parents delay seeking out a dermatologist for the hermangioma until a baby if five months old, but treatment, when needed, is more effective when started early. Sometimes infantile hermangiomas can cause complications, such as obstructing breathing or causing permanent disfigurement.
The important thing to know is that if you spot a reddish mark on your baby that continues to get larger, bring it to your pediatrician’s attention as soon as possible. Your doctor may then refer you to a dermatologist who can determine if treatment will be needed.
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