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Hemangioma Causes & Risk Factors

According to Children's Hospital Boston, hemangiomas are the most common form of birthmarks. They are bright red and patchy in appearance or might look like a lump filled with extra blood vessels. Hemangiomas usually grow during infancy (during the first year) and slowly dissipate over time.

  1. Hemangioma Facts

    • Hemangiomas are created from an unusually thick grouping of extraneous blood vessels with cells that multiply very quickly. The growth is benign (non-cancerous) and usually resolves by the time a child reaches age 10.

    Potential Cause

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers are unsure of the exact reason for the abnormality, but there does appear to be a link with some of the proteins produced by the placenta throughout pregnancy.

    Gender

    • According to Children's Hospital Boston, females are more between three and five times more likely to develop a hemangioma than males.

    Race

    • According to Children's Hospital Boston, caucasian infants are more at risk than Asian infants. African-American infants rarely develop the disorder.

    Premature Babies

    • Children's Hospital Boston estimates that as many as 25 percent of premature babies born with a low birth weight develop hemangiomas. Twins also have an increased prevalence.

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