What causes neonatal hemangioma?

Neonatal hemangiomas may be caused by genetics, maternal or environmental factors, or abnormal blood vessels. It is necessary to observe whether they have an impact on health and choose treatment based on the specific situation. Hemangiomas are generally divided into self-limiting, mild, and pathological types that require treatment. Severe cases require prompt medical treatment.

1. Genetic factors

Hemangiomas may have a genetic tendency, and some congenital problems can cause abnormal blood vessel development in babies during the fetal period. For example, babies with similar cases in their families may have an increased risk of developing hemangiomas. However, heredity is only one of the possible factors, and more research is still ongoing.

2 Environmental factors

The formation of hemangiomas may be related to the environment during pregnancy. Maternal exposure to certain adverse environmental factors, such as chemicals, pollutants, and smoking, may have adverse effects on the formation of blood vessels in the fetus. Older mothers or fluctuations in hormone levels during pregnancy may also increase the incidence of hemangiomas.

3 Physiological factors

The formation of hemangiomas is often associated with "overdevelopment" during fetal angiogenesis. In particular, when the blood vessels of newborns are not yet fully stable, abnormal growth is prone to occur. The higher incidence rate in female infants than in males may be related to estrogen levels, which is a hypothesis that requires more research.

4 Pathological diseases and complications

Hemangiomas in some newborns are related to health conditions between the mother and the fetus, such as placental dysfunction, fetal intrauterine hypoxia, etc. If the baby is born prematurely or has a low birth weight, its blood vessels are not fully developed, which may also increase the risk of hemangiomas.

How to treat and care

1. Watch and wait

For most neonatal hemangiomas, especially those that are superficial and small and self-limited, doctors usually recommend close observation because most hemangiomas do not have a negative impact on health and will gradually disappear as the child grows.

2. Drug treatment

If necessary, oral medications such as propranolol can be used to reduce the size of hemangiomas by inhibiting abnormal blood vessel growth. Local medications such as timolol eye drops can also be tried for small skin hemangiomas. Hormone injections are also used for localized, rapidly growing hemangiomas, but they must be combined with a doctor's guidance.

3. Surgery and physical therapy

For pathological hemangiomas that affect organ function or may be infected, minimally invasive surgery or laser treatment may be required, such as using pulsed dye laser to precisely eliminate the lesion; severe cases require surgical resection. Surgery should be performed in a professional medical institution to avoid secondary injury.

4. Daily care

For mild hemangiomas, parents need to protect the affected area and avoid friction or squeezing. They also need to follow up regularly to understand the changes in the hemangioma. At the same time, they need to ensure the baby's nutrition and healthy growth to assist natural recovery.

In most cases, neonatal hemangiomas are benign, but parents should pay attention to changes in the condition and seek medical attention in a timely manner to determine whether treatment is needed. Choosing the right treatment method and cooperating with it can effectively improve the condition of the hemangioma and allow the baby to grow up healthily.