What causes hemangioma in newborn babies?

Newborn hemangiomas are usually caused by a combination of genetics, environmental factors, physiological characteristics, and maternal conditions during pregnancy. Their formation is related to the abnormal proliferation of local endothelial cells and is not a contagious or preventable disease. Parents should pay attention to changes in the tumor and seek medical evaluation regularly.

1. Genetic factors

The occurrence of hemangiomas may be related to gene mutations or family inheritance. If there are similar cases in the family, the probability of hemangiomas in newborns will increase slightly. Current studies have found that some gene abnormalities may affect the development of blood vessels and the proliferation of endothelial cells, causing hemangiomas to gradually appear after birth. However, genetic factors only account for a small part, and not all hemangiomas are closely related to genetics.

2 Environmental factors

During pregnancy, the mother is affected by certain external environmental factors, such as infection, environmental pollution, and psychological stress, which may stimulate abnormal development of the fetal vascular system. These factors may cause proliferation disorders of fetal endothelial cells and form hemangiomas. Although the specific mechanism has not yet been fully clarified, cyanobacteria and heavy metal exposure have been speculated as risk factors by some studies.

3 Physiological characteristics

Hemangiomas are common in premature infants and low birth weight infants, which is related to the immature tissue growth mechanism of the fetus. Abnormal distribution of neural crest stem cells or disordered angiogenesis in the fetal period are also considered to be the key to the formation of hemangiomas. The incidence rate of female infants is significantly higher than that of male infants, which may be related to the regulation of estrogen levels.

4. Maternal pregnancy-related diseases or medications

Maternal diseases such as gestational diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy, or long-term use of certain drugs such as progesterone and anticoagulants may increase the risk of abnormal development of the fetal vascular system. Medical research shows that these conditions may cause the formation of hemangiomas by affecting placental function or the fetal blood circulation system.

5 Pathological mechanism

The core of hemangioma is the abnormal proliferation of endothelial cells. This pathological mechanism usually manifests gradually after the birth of a newborn, leading to tumors on the skin surface or internal vascular lesions. Most hemangiomas are in the early proliferation stage. If the proliferation is rapid, it may cause local complications, such as nerve compression, ulceration and bleeding, etc.

Parents should judge the degree of concern based on the characteristics of the hemangioma. Many small hemangiomas will disappear as the child grows, but for lesions in important parts of the body that may affect function or appearance, it is recommended to consult a doctor in a timely manner to take treatment measures such as oral propranolol, local laser treatment, or surgical intervention.