What are the different types of birthmarks?
Birthmarks can be categorized as either vascular birthmarks (red or purple) or pigmented birthmarks (brown or blue/gray). Pigmented birthmarks should be distinguished from moles (see the section on “Moles”). There are many kinds of vascular birthmarks. Port wine stains are usually found on the face or scalp; they are flat and faint early in life, but gradually become darker and thicker in adulthood. Hemangiomas, another kind of vascular birthmark, appear as raised bright red/purple lesions. Hemangiomas grow rapidly during infancy and usually regress spontaneously during childhood. Pigmented birthm arks vary in color, depending on the location of the pigment. In general, brown birthmarks contain pigment in the top layers of the skin, while blue or grey birthmarks contain pigment deeper in the skin.
There are many types of birthmarks. Most of them cause no problems and do not need to be treated. Pigmented birthmarks, such as moles, can be tan, brown, or blue. Vascular birthmarks, such as strawberry hemangioma, are pink or red and can be flat or bumpy. Here are some common birthmarks: • Macular stains. These flat, pink marks are sometimes called salmon patches or stork bites (you know, from the fabled stork that delivers babies). Macular stains are found on the forehead, nose, upper lip, eyelids, or the back of the neck. You’ll probably have to ask someone who was there when you were born if you had one of these birthmarks, because they usually fade by age two. • Hemangiomas. These marks are usually bright red (called strawberry) and can appear anywhere on the body. They usually grow over the first year of life and then start shrinking, until they go away on their own. Sometimes a faint mark is left behind after they disappear. These marks are usually harmless, but they may need tr
There are two main categories of birthmarks: red birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks. Red birthmarks are colored, blood vessel (vascular) skin markings that develop before or shortly after birth. The most common types of red birthmarks are: • Strawberry birthmark (has a raised red surface) • Portwine birthmark (lies flat against the skin) • Hemangiomas (have a reddish color are are usually present at birth or within a few months later) • Salmon patches or stork bites (pink and flat) – extremely common, appearing on 30-50% of newborns.
Waner: There are really three types of birthmarks. There are the vascular, made up of blood vessels, the pigmented made up of pigment cells, and the other group, which is much rarer and these are made up of another type of tissue. CNN: Do all of these need to be treated? Waner: Generally speaking, all birthmarks should be seen by a physician. I think the first physician should be a pediatrician, and the pediatrician will make a referral. Any child with a disfigurement should be considered for treatment CNN: What type of treatment is used? Waner: Vascular birthmarks such as port wine stains should be treated with lasers because most of them are progressive. In other words, as the child gets older and becomes an adult, the lesion will get bigger and bigger with time, and some of them become incompatible with normal life. Some of them can bleed. Some of them can be extremely disfiguring. CNN: What about treatment for other types of birthmarks? Waner: Pigmented lesions should be treated be
