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Hemangioma
Can people with hemangioma drink alcohol?
Hemangiomas are benign tumors of the blood vessels. It is advisable for patients with hemangiomas to abstain from alcohol, as drinking is a harmful stimulus. Prolonged alcohol consumption can lead to hardening of the vessels, which may easily cause rupture and bleeding of the hemangiomas, leading to adverse consequences. Therefore, once hemangiomas are detected, it is recommended to reduce or avoid alcohol consumption. Although hemangiomas are generally benign tumors and often do not cause significant damage to the body, some hemangiomas, due to their specific growth location and size, can sometimes lead to rupture and bleeding or affect bodily functions, thereby significantly impacting the quality of life. Such cases may require active surgical treatment, administration of sclerosing agents, or certain medications and physical therapies.
How to determine if a hemangioma is regressing
Clinically, hemangiomas are a type of benign tumor that mostly require medication, surgery, or local treatments to regress. In rare cases, hemangiomas can regress spontaneously, especially when they are small and the underlying cause of the hemangioma has been removed. Then, the color of the hemangioma may change from its original dark red to a bright red, and gradually change to a color similar to that of normal skin, indicating that the hemangioma has regressed. Clinically, depending on the impact of the hemangioma on the patient, treatment options can include medication, local microwave therapy, laser treatments, or surgical removal.
What should I do if my child has a hemangioma?
Infantile hemangiomas are caused by congenital genetic defects leading to abnormal development of capillaries. Currently, there are no very effective treatments available, and the method of treatment can be chosen based on the size and severity of the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is relatively small and does not affect the child's body, it can be temporarily observed, as some children's hemangiomas may gradually heal on their own. If the hemangioma is larger, or has caused some related clinical symptoms, or has affected the child's appearance, it is advisable to consider going to a regular hospital for surgical removal. Postoperative prognosis for the child is generally good, and ideal treatment results can be achieved.
Best treatment time for infantile hemangioma
The optimal time to treat hemangiomas in infants is generally around the age of one year, as the vascular circulation becomes visible as bright red birthmarks on the baby's body. These types of hemangiomas are cutaneous and can be effectively cured through laser treatment in early childhood. The earlier the treatment is applied, the better the outcome; the effectiveness diminishes over time. If the hemangioma does not affect the infant's appearance and is relatively small, treatment can be postponed. It is advisable to choose the timing of treatment based on the specific circumstances of the infant. If the hemangioma is large, it is recommended to seek timely laser surgery treatment at a reputable tertiary hospital.
Is it normal for a child to have hemangioma?
It is not normal for children to have hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are usually caused by congenital vascular malformations and may also be caused by hereditary factors resulting in true hemangiomas. However, regardless of the case, they are considered abnormal. Hemangiomas can be divided into two types: true hemangiomas and vascular malformations. True hemangiomas have a certain possibility of self-healing, so parents can temporarily observe. If the child does not heal by themselves after the age of five, timely treatment should be administered. Once a vascular malformation occurs, if it is not treated, it may persist throughout life. If it grows in some inconspicuous places on the skin surface, treatment may not be necessary. However, hemangiomas in the internal organs should receive enough attention and be treated as soon as possible.
What should I do if a child has a hemangioma on their foot?
The child has a hemangioma on their foot, and parents can temporarily observe it as some hemangiomas may heal on their own, so there is no need to rush into treatment. Moreover, a hemangioma on the foot usually does not affect the child's health, as it is neither itchy nor painful, and it does not affect the appearance either. If the hemangioma grows very rapidly, and it has not receded by the time the child is five years old, consider using injections of sclerosing agents or surgical treatment options to remove the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is small and not growing rapidly, parents may not need to undertake any special treatment, as a hemangioma on the foot does not affect the body nor does it impact appearance.
Do hemangiomas in children pulsate?
Children's hemangiomas do not exhibit pulsation. Hemangiomas are benign tumors and can be categorized into true hemangiomas and vascular malformations. However, regardless of the type, hemangiomas generally do not show any obvious symptoms, neither pain nor itchiness. Those that grow on the surface of the skin are easily noticeable due to their obvious location. However, hemangiomas that develop in internal organs usually cannot be detected by oneself; they are typically found during physical examinations. Hemangiomas on the skin surface almost have no impact on children, but those growing in internal organs can be more dangerous if they grow large and rupture, possibly even threatening life. Therefore, if an internal organ hemangioma is discovered, it is crucial to treat it promptly.
How to determine if a red spot is a hemangioma
In clinical settings, to determine whether red spots on the skin are hemangiomas, it is advised to visit a hospital and seek the expertise of an oncologist or a dermatologist specializing in vascular surgery for proper diagnosis. For small red spots on the skin, one can apply local pressure to see if the redness fades, returning to a normal skin color, which could indicate that the spots are hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are relatively common benign vascular tumors. In most cases, they do not cause symptoms clinically and are due to endothelial cell abnormalities in the vessels. Symptoms such as pain might occur only when the hemangioma is large enough to cause compression.
The difference between lipomas and hemangiomas
Lipomas and hemangiomas are not the same disease and are not directly related. Lipomas generally occur in superficial parts of the body, sometimes in the muscle layer. Lipomas typically have a complete capsule and exhibit a lobulated shape. They are usually soft, and patients do not exhibit obvious local symptoms. On the other hand, hemangiomas often occur in solid organs, including liver hemangiomas, spleen hemangiomas, and kidney hemangiomas. Hemangiomas can also appear in superficial areas, such as the skin where they can form strawberry-like lesions, causing discomfort due to their appearance. However, most hemangiomas do not tend to enlarge and are benign, requiring no special treatment.
What should be noted about hemangiomas of the liver?
For patients with hepatic hemangioma, the precautions mainly include the following points: First, the severity of hepatic hemangioma is primarily related to its size. Therefore, patients with small hemangiomas usually do not show obvious symptoms and do not require special treatment. It is sufficient to regularly re-examine them with color ultrasound to dynamically observe changes in size. However, for patients with large hepatic hemangiomas, which often cause rupture and bleeding, attention should be paid. Interventional surgery can be used to achieve embolization, thus achieving the purpose of treatment. Second, patients with hepatic hemangioma should also avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as foods that are difficult to digest, in order to lessen the burden on the liver and help control the progression of the disease.