Management of Infantile Hemangioma in the Community

Authors

  • Lisa Flegel, MD, FRCPC, DABD Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cdt.2025.62140

Abstract

I practice as a general medical dermatologist in Northern British Columbia. During my first year of practice, I saw several infants requiring treatment for an infantile hemangioma, which required me to become familiar with topical and systemic therapies. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the management of uncomplicated infantile hemangiomas in community settings, helping dermatologists become confident in prescribing first-line topical and systemic therapies.

Author Biography

Lisa Flegel, MD, FRCPC, DABD, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Dr. Lisa Flegel is a dermatologist in Prince George, BC. She completed her medical school and dermatology residency at the University of British Columbia, and is board certified in Canada and the United States. She has a community practice and is a clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia.

References

Sun Y, Zhao J, Meng Y, Luo W, Jiang C, Deng G, et al. The prevalence, complications, and risk factors for infantile hemangioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2024;63(6):737-746. doi:10.1111/ijd.17062

Ding Y, Zhang JZ, Yu SR, Xiang F, Kang XJ. Risk factors for infantile hemangioma: a meta-analysis. World J Pediatr. 2020;16(4):377-384. doi:10.1007/s12519-019-00327-2

Rodríguez Bandera AI, Sebaratnam DF, Wargon O, Wong LF. Infantile hemangioma. Part 1: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and assessment. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;85(6):1379-1392. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.08.019

Chang LC, Haggstrom AN, Drolet BA, Baselga E, Chamlin SL, Garzon MC, et al. Growth characteristics of infantile hemangiomas: implications for management. Pediatrics. 2008;122(2):360-367. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2767

Paller AS, Mancini AJ. Infantile hemangiomas, vascular malformations, and other vascular disorders of infancy and childhood. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, editors. Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020. p. 326-368.e8.

Baselga E, Roe E, Coulie J, Munoz FZ, Boon LM, McCuaig C, et al. Risk factors for degree and type of sequelae after involution of untreated hemangiomas of infancy. JAMA Dermatol. 2016;152(11):1239-1243. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.2905

Krowchuk DP, Frieden IJ, Mancini AJ, Darrow DH, Blei F, Greene AK, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the management of infantile hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2019;143(1):e20183475. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-3475

Püttgen K, Lucky A, Adams D, Pope E, McCuaig C, Powell J, et al. Topical timolol maleate treatment of infantile hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20160355. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0355

Solman L, Glover M, Beattie PE, Buckley H, Clark S, Gach JE, et al. Oral propranolol in the treatment of proliferating infantile haemangiomas: British Society for Paediatric Dermatology consensus guidelines. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179(3):582-589. doi:10.1111/bjd.16779

Smithson SL, Rademaker M, Adams S, Bade S, Bekhor P, Davidson S, et al. Consensus statement for the treatment of infantile haemangiomas with propranolol. Australas J Dermatol. 2017;58(2):155-159. doi:10.1111/ajd.12600

Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique Canada Inc. Product monograph including patient medication information Pr HEMANGIOL (propranolol solution). Oral solution, 3.75 mg/mL propranolol (as propranolol hydrochloride), oral use. Brossard, QC, Canada. [Authorization 2021 Jun 16, Revision 16 Jun 2021]. Available from: https://www.hemangiol.ca/pm/

Sebaratnam DF, Rodríguez Bandera AL, Wong LF, Wargon O. Infantile hemangioma. part 2: management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;85(6):1395-1404. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.08.020

Frieden IJ, Püttgen KB, Drolet BA, Garzon MC, Chamlin SL, Pope E, et al. Management of infantile hemangiomas during the COVID pandemic. Pediatr Dermatol. 2020;37(3):412-418. doi:10.1111/pde.14196

Shah SD, Baselga E, McCuaig C, Pope E, Coulie J, Boon LM, et al. Rebound growth of infantile hemangiomas after propranolol therapy. Pediatrics. 2016;137(4):e20151754.

Pope E, Lara-Corrales I, Sibbald C, Liy-Wong C, Kanigsberg N, Drolet B, et al. Noninferiority and safety of nadolol vs propranolol in infants with infantile hemangioma: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics. 2022;176(1):34-41. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.4565

Published

2025-06-25

How to Cite

1.
Flegel L. Management of Infantile Hemangioma in the Community. Can Dermatol Today [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 25 [cited 2025 Jun. 28];6(2):10–15. Available from: https://canadiandermatologytoday.com/article/view/6-1-Flegel

Issue

Section

Articles