Common Childhood Conditions What Does a Hemangioma Look Like? A
hemangioma (pronounced hee-man-gee-no-ma) is a skin lesion. If
it's red ("superficial"), then it's in the top skin layers. If
it's blue ("deep"), then it's deeper in the skin. Often, there's
a combination of these called "mixed". Hemangiomas are usually
not present at birth, although they may appear within a few
months after birth. They often begin in an area that has
appeared slightly dusky or differently colored than the
surrounding tissue. Hemangiomas in this area of discoloration
can be isolated ("focal") or extensive ("segmental"). Most are
isolated, and a few become extensive. Eighty percent are near
the head and neck. What Causes a Hemangioma and Who Gets Them?
Hemangiomas occur four times more often in girls than in boys
and occur mostly in Caucasians. Low-birth-weight babies (less
than 2.2 pounds) have a 26 percent chance of developing a
hemangioma. Will Hemangiomas Change? Hemangiomas can grow for up
to 10 months and then usually begin