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Haemangioma (Paediatrics)

Very low urgency
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Abnormal formation of blood vessels in the skin.

It appears at birth or in the first few months of life for no apparent reason.

It manifests as reddish areas on the skin that may increase in size over time.

It is diagnosed by a clinical history and physical examination.

Treatment is not usually needed. In some cases it is treated for aesthetic reasons. Small blood vessels may be lasered to remove them, or steroid injections may be used for cavernous hemangiomas.

Bibliographic references
  1. Bruckner AL, Frieden IJ. Hemangiomas of infancy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 48:477.
  2. Léauté-Labrèze C, Harper JI, Hoeger PH. Infantile haemangioma. Lancet 2017; 390:85.
  3. Kilcline C, Frieden IJ. Infantile hemangiomas: how common are they? A systematic review of the medical literature. Pediatr Dermatol 2008; 25:168.
  4. Munden A, Butschek R, Tom WL, et al. Prospective study of infantile haemangiomas: incidence, clinical characteristics and association with placental anomalies. Br J Dermatol 2014; 170:907.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Raised reddish-blue skin lesions

    Raised red lesion of the skin with irregular borders

    Skin has flat pink lesion evolving to dark red/purple colour

    Painless skin lump

    Skin lesion has a different colour from the rest of the skin

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever (temperature higher than 38 ºC)
Bleeding in the wound
Secretion of whitish liquid (pus)
Reddish sores that are itchy, break open, and ooze clear fluid or pus
Reddened and painful ulcer in the affected area
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