Understanding Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Cherry angioma - Campbell de Morgan spots

General

A hemangioma of the skin is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels on or under the skin's surface. A hemangioma of the skin may look like a red-wine or strawberry-colored plaque, and it may protrude from the skin.

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Signs & symptoms

Hemangiomas of the skin are generally deep red or blue-purple. The deeper the hemangioma, the darker it’s color. They appear as raised lesions or tumors on the skin. Growths on the skin’s surface (strawberry, capillary, or superficial hemangiomas) are usually deep red. Growths under the skin’s surface appear as blue or purple spongy masses filled with blood. Hemangiomas are generally small, but they can grow to be quite large. They usually begin as small spots or red patches on the skin that form during the first 2 or 3 weeks of life. Hemangiomas in infants tend to grow rapidly for the following 4 to 6 months. After this period of growth, hemangiomas enter a resting phase. They usually remain the same size for several months or years and then begin to shrink.

Diagnosis

A healthcare provider can diagnose a hemangioma of the skin by looking at it. No other testing is usually necessary. Sometimes, your healthcare provider may order blood tests or a skin biopsy if growth appears abnormal or different sores are present. A skin biopsy involves removing a small piece of skin for testing.

Treatment

Superficial hemangiomas are not usually treated. Most of the time, the growth tends to shrink and will usually disappear independently. If a hemangioma is in an area that could interfere with sight or breathing, treatment may be necessary. Treatment might also be required if the hemangioma is very large or breaks open and bleeds, causing discomfort. Treatments can shrink or remove the growth. Laser surgery can remove a large hemangioma of the skin that’s uncomfortable or is causing problems. Laser treatments can also reduce remaining discoloration after a hemangioma has healed.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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