Infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of infancy. The lesions usually are seen soon after birth and grow for several months. Eventually the lesions will go away, but the process may take up to 10 years and some changes are permanent. Complications are rare but can be devastating if not treated in a timely and appropriate manner.

In general, infantile hemangiomas will shrink over time and most disappear completely on their own. Therefore, most will not require treatment. However, some hemangiomas do need treatment.
Whether to treat a hemangioma is determined by a number of factors, including:

• Age
• Size of the hemangioma
• Location of the hemangioma
• How rapidly the hemangioma is growing

Hemangiomas located in areas that threaten health (such as airway or liver) or normal function (such as ear canal or on the eye) and hemangiomas that are potentially disfiguring (such as face) are treated more quickly and aggressively than hemangiomas that pose less of a risk. As timely referral for treatment is critical to prevent complications, the Infantile Hemangioma Referral Score was developed as a tool for primary health care providers to help identify which children may have higher risk hemangiomas and may benefit from referral to dermatology.
 

All of our pediatric dermatologists are trained to take care of infants and children with infantile hemangiomas. Depending on the patient’s needs, some patients may be referred for care in the Hemangioma Clinic. This clinic provides comprehensive care for the child and family with infantile hemangiomas. In addition, pediatric dermatologists at Children's Wisconsin are leaders in the research of infantile hemangiomas.

Treatment options for infantile hemangiomas include:

• Observation
• Propranolol
• Timolol
• Surgical removal in rare cases

Read more about hemangiomas here.