Hemangiomas (also called vascular birthmarks) are benign tumors of the blood vessels. They may be present at birth or appear in infancy and then enlarge. After that hemangiomas may get smaller by themselves or may persist. They are filled with blood and so are red when more superficial, or blue if deeper.

In infancy or childhood hemangiomas may grow rapidly, affect the eye or breathing, or even occur in the brain or elsewhere. Infantile hemangiomas should be treated by a specialized pediatric dermatologist at a University Hospital.

Here at the Advanced Dermatology Center we treat teenagers and adults with hemangiomas. These come in many different forms. There are small cherry hemangiomas which can be single or multiple, while venous lakes more commonly occur on the mucous membranes. Those small lesions are often treated with electrodesiccation.

Some of the larger hemangiomas include the following:
Capillary Hemangiomas occur in the topmost layer of the skin. These are usually red and can be raised (Strawberry Hemangioma.) Some may fade in childhood, but many remain.

Port Wine Stains (PWS) are usually present at birth as a flat patch and can be pink, red or purple. These persist throughout life. Generally with time they become darker and more raised. They can then develop nodules, become symptomatic and even ulcerate.

Cavernous Hemangiomas occur more deeply in the skin. They can look like a red raised lump on the skin or can be a deeper blue swelling underneath the skin.

Treatments for Port Wine Stains & Hemangiomas

In our laser center we generally treat Port Wine Stains (PWS) and Hemangiomas with several kinds of specialized vascular lasers. In the past treatment was done primarily with a pulsed dye laser, but now other lasers with longer wavelengths have been found to be more effective. The laser light passes through the top layers of the skin and is absorbed by the blood in the hemangioma, because of its color. There it is converted to heat and causes the vessel walls to close down. Laser treatment of a hemangioma is done in multiple sessions, spaced apart to get the most effect from each session.

There can be bruising with the treatment. In fact, some studies say that bruising helps the hemangioma to resolve more quickly. There are several specialized makeup brands that are especially formulated to cover hemangiomas and bruising (e.g. Dermablend, Covermark, etc.).

Duration of treatment will generally depend on the depth, location and color, as well as the patient's skin type and age, and the lesions fade gradually with treatment.

Examples of the Appearance of Various Hemangiomas
	Port Wine Stain - Capillary Hemangioma in right temple area.
	Port Wine Stains Capillary Hemangiomas On neck, shoulder, and back.
	Hemangioma on the leg.
	Port Wine Stain - Capillary Hemangioma below ear.
	Venous Lake on lip.
	Hemangioma on eyelid.
	Multiple Hemangiomas.
	Cherry Hemangioma.

If you or someone you care about has a hemangioma or Port Wine Stain, please call us at (706) 323-1000 to schedule your individualized consultation. We’ll be happy to discuss your lesion and what the best options are.