How do birthmarks happen

There are several different types of birthmark and some of them are very common. Vascular birthmarks Some of the most common types of vascular birthmarks are described below.

Salmon patch stork mark — red or pink flat patches that can appear on a baby's eyelids, neck or forehead at birth. They are the most common type of vascular birthmark and occur in around half of all babies.

Most will fade away within a few months but salmon patches on the forehead may take up to 4 or more years to disappear.

Patches on the back of the neck often last. They are often more noticeable when a baby cries. Infantile haemangioma — a raised mark on the skin that is usually red and can appear anywhere on the body. These are also known as 'strawberry birthmarks'. Sometimes they are deeper in the skin, in which case the skin can look blue or purple. Haemangiomas are also common, especially in girls, and affect every 2 to 4 in babies by 6 weeks of age.

They increase in size rapidly for the first 6 months but will eventually shrink and usually disappear by around 4 or 5 years of age. Very bulky haemangiomas, those that rapidly increase in size and those that get in the way of vision, breathing or feeding, may need treatment. Port wine stain — red or purple flat marks that affect around 3 in newborn babies. They can vary in size, from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter. Port wine stains often occur on one side of the body and usually appear on the face, chest and back, although they can appear anywhere.

Port wine stains tend to be sensitive to hormones and may become more noticeable around puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Most are permanent and may deepen in colour over time. Pigmented birthmarks Some of the most common types of pigmented birthmarks are described below.

Many children have 1 or 2 of these, but if more than 6 have developed by the time the child is 5, see your doctor as it could be a sign of neurofibromatosis. Mongolian spots — blue-grey or bruised-looking birthmarks which are present at birth.

They are more commonly seen in darker skinned people and usually appear over the lower back or buttocks, but can also appear elsewhere on the body or limbs. They may last for months or years, but usually disappear by the age of 4. They are completely harmless and do not need treatment.

They may be mistaken for a bruise. Congenital melanocytic naevi CMN — also known as 'congenital moles'. These are relatively large brown or black moles that are present at birth. They are fairly common and are caused by an overgrowth of pigment cells in the skin. Most CMN become proportionally smaller and less obvious with time, although they may darken during puberty or become bumpy or hairy.

They can range in size from less than 1. Doctors can treat larger or more visible hemangiomas with medicine put directly into the hemangioma, given into a vein with an IV , or taken by mouth oral. Laser highly concentrated light energy treatment can help kids with port-wine stains.

Most stains get lighter after several treatments with a "pulsed-dye" laser. Some can return and need re-treatment. Laser treatment often starts in infancy when the stain and the blood vessels are smaller. Marks on the head and neck react well to laser treatment. Special makeup also can hide a port-wine stain. Doctors can remove moles — particularly large or giant congenital nevi — with surgery, though larger ones may be harder to remove.

A doctor should check a birthmark when it first appears to see what type it is, and to decide what monitoring or treatment it needs, if any. Call the doctor if a birthmark ever bleeds, hurts, itches, or gets infected. Like any injury where there is bleeding, clean the wound with soap and water and, using a gauze bandage, place firm pressure on the area until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding doesn't stop, call the doctor.

Open sores sometimes form with hemangiomas and can get infected. Pigmented birthmarks rarely cause other problems, but moles should be checked throughout life for changes in size, color, or texture. It can be a shock at first to see a birthmark on your newborn. If the birthmark is clearly visible, people might ask questions or stare, which can feel rude. It helps to have a simple explanation ready to handle this. Most people mean no harm, but it's also OK to let them know if they've gone too far.

Even at a young age, kids watch how their parents respond to such situations. This is where they learn how to cope with others' reactions. Talking simply and openly about a birthmark with kids makes them more likely to accept one as just another part of themselves, like hair color. Practice simple answers they can use if asked about it, like "It's just a birthmark. I was born with it. Reviewed by: Steven M. Andreoli, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.

What Are Birthmarks? What Causes Birthmarks? They are a type of benign tumor. Most people only develop one, and…. Slate gray nevi previously known as Mongolian blue spots are a type of birthmark that resembles a bruise. They are not harmful and often disappear…. Neurofibromatosis is an inherited disorder of the nervous system in which tumors develop on nerves, leading to a range of complications.

Pityriasis rosea is a largely benign skin rash that often appears to be more severe that it actually is. It may be accompanied by a feeling of…. Vitiligo is a long-term skin problem that produces white patches of depigmentation on certain sections of skin.

Find out about the causes and…. What to know about birthmarks. Written by Adam Felman on July 23, Causes Types Complications Treatment For the most part, birthmarks are blemishes on the skin that are noticeable at birth or shortly afterward.

Share on Pinterest A birthmark is a blemish on the skin that is visible from birth or shortly afterward. Share on Pinterest Laser surgery is an option for treating a birthmark. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage.