what causes strawberry birthmarks

Strawberry hemangiomas are the most common tumors of infancy. Strawberry hemangiomas, while they are technically birth marks, are often not noticed at birth. Then over the next several years, the red color of the hemangioma begins to fade the mark dissolves away. Strawberry hemangiomas completely resolve in 50 percent of children by age five and 70 percent by age seven. In less than five percent of children, the hemangioma can leave a divot in the skin during its fading away phase. In addition, uncommonly, the hemangioma can enlarge to involve structures vital to eyesight or breathing. Hemangiomas that involve the eyelids can hamper eyesight by their growth, which in turn causes the eyelid to droop. While this condition is transient, because the hemangioma will fade away, having the eyesight blocked by the eyelid can cause significant problems with the development of correct vision. Because strawberry hemangiomas rarely cause significant medical or cosmetic problems, treatment is usually reserved for those who are at high risk for complications. First, I would suggest to you that the overwhelming majority of babies with strawberry hemangiomas located in the spot you describe have no medical complications arising from them. In addition, the odds are also way in your son's favor that it will resolve over time causing little or no mark by the time he reaches school age. I would advise against any massaging as this will not make it resolve any faster, and in fact, you could cause some bleeding within the hemangioma which could cause complications or scarring. Being able to actually see cases of children who have had strawberry hemangiomas more extensive than your son's which resolved on their own may ease your mind. what causes strawberry birthmarks