Any birthmark with the word “strawberry” in the name might sound sweet. But if you don’t know what you’re dealing with, seeing a strawberry hemangioma on your baby’s skin will probably set off some alarm bells.
Try not to panic, though. Despite their appearance, strawberry hemangiomas aren’t usually cause for concern as long as you and your baby’s pediatrician keep a watchful eye. What's more, these colorful birthmarks don’t tend to stick around for long.
What are strawberry hemangiomas?
Strawberry hemangiomas, or infantile hemangiomas, are benign growths made of extra blood vessels under the skin.[1]
The name comes from their appearance, which can resemble a berry. Strawberry hemangiomas may:
- Have a bright red color
- Have a raised, bumpy or cluster-like texture
- But hemangiomas can also be smooth and bluish purple, like a bruise
Around 5 percent to to 10 percent of babies have hemangiomas. Some are born with them, while others get them in the first few weeks or months of life.
Once these marks appear, they tend to grow quickly before leveling off between 3 and 5 months — and eventually shrinking.[2]
Where do strawberry hemangiomas usually appear?
These growths can form anywhere on your little one’s body. But most often, you’ll find them on the face, scalp, back or chest.
Sometimes hemangiomas will crop up in little clusters around a baby’s mouth or chin in a beard-like pattern.
What causes strawberry hemangiomas?
Hemangiomas form when lots of small, immature blood vessels clump together. Experts don’t know what causes the vessels to cluster in the first place, but strawberry hemangiomas are more likely to affect girls, twins, babies with lighter skin tones and those born early or at a low weight.[3]
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Do strawberry hemangiomas disappear?
Most strawberry hemangioma marks shrink and fade, but not all go away completely. By your little one’s first birthday, you’ll likely notice the mark starting to get smaller, flatter and duller — a process that can continue until she turns 4 or 5. By that time, the hemangioma might be all gone, but it could also leave some scar tissue.
Despite how noticeable they can be, strawberry hemangiomas are usually left to go away on their own, since removing them can leave a more noticeable scar.
Your baby’s pediatrician might opt to remove the hemangioma if it’s very large or growing near your little one’s eyes, nose or mouth, which can make it harder for her to see, breathe or eat. For infants, the doctor will usually turn to options like oral medications, topical treatments or injections before considering surgery or lasers.[4]
When to speak to your baby’s doctor about a strawberry hemangioma
You should always let your child's pediatrician know if your baby has or develops a hemangioma. Though the majority of the marks are harmless, ones located near your baby’s eyes, nose or mouth could become problematic.
And since hemangiomas grow quickly, it’s important to keep an eye on them: If the doctor decides that a growth needs to be removed, treatments tend to work best and leave the least amount of scarring when they’re done as soon as possible.
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