A hemangioma is a birthmark that most commonly appears as a rubbery, bright red nodule of extra blood vessels in the skin.
Sometimes called a strawberry mark, the hemangioma grows during the first year of life, and then recedes over time. A child, who had a hemangioma during infancy, usually has a little visible trace of the growth by the age of 10.
A hemangioma may be present at birth, but more often appears during the first several months of life. It starts out as a flat red mark anywhere on the body, most often on the face, scalp, chest or back. Usually there is only one mark, but some children may have more than one, particularly if they are part of a multiple birth.
During the child’s first year, the red mark grows rapidly and becomes a spongy mass that protrudes from the skin. The hemangioma then enters a rest phase and, eventually, it begins to slowly disappear.
Around fifty percent of all hemangiomas disappear by the age of 5, and nearly all hemangiomas are resolved by the age of 10. Although the color of the birthmark also fades, faint — but permanent — discoloration of the skin or residual extra skin may remain.