How to Remove Strawberry Marks

Hemangiomas are birthmarks raised up from the skin which have a bright, red appearance, thus they are often called strawberry marks. These birthmarks usually appear in infancy but fade over time. Sometimes, they do not fade and you may want to remove them for cosmetic purposes. Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about strawberry marks. Your doctor will advise you if treatment is needed. There are options to reduce the size of the strawberry mark or remove them.

Instructions

• 1

  Get a corticosteroid treatment. The corticosteroid may stop the mark from growing bigger and may even shrink it. These treatments can be injected into the skin or given orally. Your doctor will discuss the best method for you, however you may need many treatments to stop the growth and get rid of the strawberry mark. There are risk factors that include high blood sugar and and high blood pressure. Children may have poor growth after getting corticosteroid treatments, so this is not something to be taken lightly.

• 2

  Invest in laser treatments to remove the strawberry mark. The laser basically burns the capillaries where the strawberry mark is located, cutting off blood supply to stop the growth and reduce the size of the mark. This treatment is performed by a doctor and you will probably need several treatments. You may experience pain and bleeding and even scarring or changes in skin color.

• 3

  Speak to your doctor about cryotherapy. This treatment freezes the tissue surrounding the strawberry mark by inserting a probe of liquid nitrogen into the skin. Thus, the strawberry mark is destroyed. Get all the facts before undergoing this type of treatment and find out if there are any side effects.

• 4

  Get the birthmark removed by surgery. A doctor cuts the strawberry mark out of the skin in this procedure. This is generally not recommended unless it is located in a location such as the eyes, nose or mouth and it does not go away on its own.