Strawberry mark (hemangioma) in baby: Should I have it removed? Any experience?

[JJsandcat]

My DD (9mths) has a strawberry mark on the side of her back. It's lumpy and bright red though small and only about 6mm wide. It's raised and has grown a bit since birth.

My DH is all for lasering it now so she will not remember it later. He doesn't want her to undergo the OP when she's bigger or feel self-conscious about it when she is a teenager.

I do see his point but I think it's a special mark she has and it's only visible when swimming or later with a low cut back. I think it's a good indentification mark and I'd rather have that than a scar.

Have any of your DC had this? How did you deal with it? What can be done and how was recovery? Do your DC remember? Or did you leave it and did they want to remove it later? Thanks for your advice!

Dd2 had one of these on her chin, I believe there is a pic of her when she was about 2 on my profile and you can make it out on her chin. Anyway she is 7 now and its nearly gone, its whiten and flatten now, the only thing you really notice is the skin is slightly 'baggy' there and a small lump

MumofJTM, I hadn't thought of technology advcancing. Totally agree.

Thanks Duggie & Greensleeves. Just saw your piccies, it's faded really well, wow.

my dd had one of these, it was on her arm. She wasn't born with it, it appeared when she was about 2/3 weeks old. she was about 2 and a half 3yrs old when it completely went and you would never of known it was there now. Our doctor told us it would go away after a few years, she said 99% of them do. Maybe its worth holding out and as its on your dd's back no one will see it until she is older.

Can I just ask those whose childrens strawberry birth marks have disappeared, did they all flatten eventually. My ds had one in the middle of his forehead which now he is 6 it is normal skin colour but is still raised. I am wondering if it will start to flatten in time or if it will stay raised?

rainbow you can see my ds2's on my profile

it isn't completely flat (he's nearly 5 now) and has some red veiny patches in it, but really isn't that noticeable. People notice his big grin and cheeky eyes before they notice his birthmark

DS has got one on his chest. It got bigger until he was about 8 months old but is now gradually fading and getting smaller - he will be 1 in a week's time!

DTD1 had one and it faded and went without treatment. It was quite helpful telling her apart from her sister though while it was there!

rainbowdays, dd's is still raised and bumpy, she's 7.5

DD had one and now at 2.5 it has almost gone. It is on her upper arm and there is now a small pinky bumpy mark which I know will fade even more.

It was bright red when she was a tiny baby and we have pictures of her getting ready for the bath and it looked like a bikers heart tattoo

Don't know if you have heard of the Birthmark Support Group see here. They have lots of information about different types of birthmark and also contacts that you can mail to answer questions you may have.

ds had a very bright red one on his tummy; faded when he was about two, not visible at all now

dd2 10mo has three. Started as red dots and grew into little bumps. The biggest one is on her side and is very raised but never bursts. Other one on her back and one on her face. If they're only small I wouldn't do anything. DN is nearly 8 and the huge one he had on his back has almost totally faded.

DS2's was on the top of his head, his became infected because he kept scratching & catching it.
He ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, the infection & blood loss caused it to sort of collapse & shrink.
He does have soem scarring & very little ahir has grown on the brth mark site, not really a problem as he has loads of thick dark hair that covers it.
Not sure what it will look like as an adult if he goes bald.

The Dr's were very reluctant to touch it before the infection, they advised hust a watch & wait approach, although he was already under the care of the paed because he was very prem.

My dd had a very livid one on her upper thigh, and I was told not to worry, it would fade away by the time she was 6. And it did, earlier actually! There is a very pale mark on her leg now (she is 9), but to be honest I (or she) haven't even thought about it or noticed it for a good year now. So ..... I would leave it and see what happens in the next two or three years.