life span of infantile haemangiomas can be divided into (1):
rapid proliferative phase (0-1 year)
slow involuting phase (1-7 years)
involuted phase (8-12 years)
virtually all infantile haemangiomas undergo spontaneous regression, which is complete or almost complete in the great majority
considerable variation in the rate of involution of individual lesions
no evidence to suggest that deep lesions involute more slowly than superficial ones
age at first appearance
does not appear to affect materially the likely speed of resolution
size of lesion
smaller lesions probably resolve more rapidly
early onset of resolution is generally associated with a more rapid disappearance and a superior cosmetic result
with respect to superficial infantile haemagioma of the "strawberry" type
in majority of cases the lesion regresses completely by 4 or 5 years of age
very little evidence to support the widely expressed theory that ulceration accelerates the initiation of resolution
resolution of superficial infantile haemangiomas is heralded by the appearance of focal areas of greyish opacification in the central part of the surface
foci gradually become confluent and extend towards the periphery of the lesion
when resolution has ceased, the affected area may be perfectly normal, but commonly it shows subtle atrophy and telangiectasia
in the case of larger superficial lesions and at certain sites, particularly the lips, eyelids, and upper chest a residual sac of redundant and atrophic skin commonly remains
areas of previous ulceration frequently leave yellowish scars
lesions in the scalp usually resolve without permanent alopecia in the affected area, unless previous ulceration has occurred
infantile haemangiomas at certain sites appear particularly to regress particularly slowly and generally incompletely e.g. lesions on the nose (sometimes termed the 'Cyrano' or 'Pinocchio'nose), the lips and the parotid area
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