The Prednisone class of drugs is used to slow the growth of proliferating hemangiomas. Brand names include, prelone, and deltasone. Corticosteroids are natural hormones produced by the adrenal glands. They have potent anti-inflammatory properties. However steroid treatment is only useful during the proliferative phase in most cases.
Oral steroids do have side effects that frighten most parents.
The side effects of oral steroid use include gastric reflux, and stomach irritation. Increased irritability, increased susceptibility to infection, and impairment of the natural immune response to infection are other complications of steroid use. These effects can result in a delay of normal vaccines for infants. In rare cases they may have a growth in body hair. Prolonged steroid use can depress the ability of the body's adrenal glands to produce natural corticosteroid.