Do infant hemangiomas go away on their own? Parents of children with hemangioma have a lot of confusion about this, and there used to be a big controversy in the medical community. According to the classification scheme of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Tumors and Vascular Malformations, the classification method based on the biological characteristics of vascular endothelial cells reclassifies the previously traditional meaning of “hemangioma” (i.e. vascular disease) into hemangioma and vascular malformation, and explains the most essential difference between the two, i.e. vascular tumors have abnormal proliferation of vascular The most essential difference between the two is that vascular tumors have abnormal proliferation of endothelial cells, while vascular malformations do not. Infantile hemangioma is a benign congenital tumor derived from the endothelial cells of blood vessels. Infantile hemangioma usually appears about 1 week after birth, and the incidence ratio of male to female is about 1:3. Within 1 year of age, hemangioma is in the proliferative stage, and gradually enters the receding stage around 1 year of age. The regression rate of hemangioma is about 10% at the age of 1 year, about 50% at the age of 5 years, and up to 70% at the age of 7 years. Vascular malformations, on the other hand, are congenital developmental malformations of blood vessels or lymphatic vessels that are present at birth, but sometimes are not obvious and gradually become apparent after birth. Vascular malformations are equally prevalent in men and women, do not resolve on their own, and grow in equal proportion to the patient’s growth and development. Proliferative hemangiomas often initially appear as pale macules, followed by dilated capillaries surrounded by a halo-like whitish area. Infants and children exhibit two typical periods of rapid growth within the first year of life, with the first rapid growth period occurring 4-6 weeks after birth and the second at 4-5 months of age. More superficial proliferative hemangiomas often appear as bright red spots or nodular lesions, while more advanced lesions have a cyanotic or no color change on the surface. The regression phase usually occurs by the end of the first year of life (12 to 18 months), when the growth of the tumor slows down. The transition from the proliferative phase to the regressive phase is a gradual process, with entry into the regressive phase being precipitated by a marked slowing down of the growth rate and softening of the texture of the tumor. When a cutaneous or subcutaneous hemangioma enters the regressive phase, the color of the tumor changes from bright red to dark gray, and the tumor gradually fades and shrinks. Most cases go through a regression period of 2~5 years. 3.Treatment of infantile hemangioma Some studies found that for lesions that can subside before the age of 6, about 62% of patients can achieve the best aesthetic effect after the tumors subside; however, for lesions that cannot subside before the age of 6, about 80% of patients have facial scarring, excessive skin and capillary dilation after the hemangioma subside. Exactly how to treat hemangioma clinically should depend on the site, depth (superficial, deep, mixed), extent and size of the lesion, stage (proliferative, regressive), whether there is functional impairment, treating physician’s treatment experience, effectiveness of specific treatment methods, and expectations of the child’s family. At present, the main methods of treatment for hemangioma are wait-and-see, drug therapy, laser therapy and surgery. In the past, the main damage of infant hemangiomas often came not from the lesion itself, but from overtreatment. Past cases treated with surgery, freezing, laser, radiation, and sclerotherapy have been followed up long term and confirmed to have unsatisfactory therapeutic and cosmetic results. Complications of aggressive treatment can reach 50% and have a 30% recurrence rate. Therefore, it should be emphasized that the aim of treatment is not only to eliminate the lesion, but also to maintain healthy normal tissue and appearance. The psychosocial impact of the treatment strategy on the child should also be fully considered before deciding on a treatment plan. Some children with facial hemangiomas are unable to enter kindergartens and schools and have difficulty getting along normally with other children because of the deformities caused by the lesions. Children begin to develop a sense of self at 18 to 24 months of age, and the presence of a hemangioma can affect them at every important stage of their development from that point on. Likewise, the presence of a hemangioma can have a marked effect on the affected child’s relatives, who often feel guilty, inferior or even disappointed and exhibit an overprotective consciousness. Active treatment with medications, compression bandages, laser, surgery, etc. should be considered when the following conditions exist: 1. rapid growth of hemangioma; 2. large hemangioma with bleeding, infection or ulceration; 3. affecting the patient’s vital functions, such as feeding, breathing, swallowing, hearing, vision, excretion or motor functions; 4. with thrombocytopenia syndrome (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) 5, combined with high output congestive heart failure; 6, lesions invade important facial structures, such as eyelids, nose, lips, auricles, etc. However, no treatment can be as satisfactory as complete regression on its own.