Hemangiomas, which are benign skin growths, most often occur in children but often affect adults as well. These growths are quite common in young children, but they usually begin to fade before or during the preteen years. It is less common to see hemangiomas in adults under 40 years of age. However, after the age of 40, they are seen more often, and people over the age of 70 are more likely to develop them.
When a person has a hemangioma, they have a skin growth that results from too many blood vessels growing in one area. They create a bumpy or spongy formation of skin that appears red or purple and often develops on the affected person's torso. They are often referred to as strawberry hemangiomas when they affect the surface of a child's skin and deep hemangiomas when they are significantly embedded in the skin. Although they are the same type of skin growth, they are often called cherry hemangiomas when they affect adults. Hemangiomas develop in people of all races, but are most noticeable in those with fair complexions.
Hemangiomas that commonly affect adults are usually smaller than those that develop in children. Many of these growths are no larger than a dot, mole, or liver spot. However, they can appear very large when growing in groups, creating the appearance of large masses rather than individual growths. Hemangiomas can also grow in groups when they affect children, but they often appear on more of an adult's body than a child's.
Scientists aren't 100 percent sure what causes these skin growths to form. For children, there may be a link between proteins developed while in the womb and hemangiomas. The cause of hemangiomas in adults may be even more mysterious. Some theories include minor abnormalities involving genes and chemical exposure. Even if they are not caused by genetic abnormalities, there is some evidence that they are more likely to run in families.
The presence of hemangiomas in adults does not mean that affected individuals have cancer, and cancer cells do not usually form in this type of growth. However, they can bleed, especially when irritated by friction, and some people seek treatment to stop the bleeding or for cosmetic reasons. Doctors sometimes burn or freeze these growths, although laser removal can also be effective. Also, injection with a type of hormone medicine called a corticosteroid can help treat some hemangiomas in adults.