Birthmarks

Most babies are born with some type of discolouration on their skin - the majority of these disappear on their own in the months after birth, though occasionally, they increase in size before disappearing.

Birthmarks are those marks on the skin that are permanent and will never disappear. While birthmarks don't cause any discomfort to the barer, they can be upsetting for new parents when they are large or in a prominent area such as the face. Experts still don't know why some babies develop birthmarks.

Types of marks on your baby's skin

 

• Stork marks

Technically known as vascular ecstasia, but more commonly also known as stork bites, these little pink patches of skin are usually found on the forehead, eyelids, nose, top lip, on the bridge of the nose and the nape of the neck. Stork marks appear on approximately 50% of newborns and will fade or disappear completely over time - although these marks do sometimes become more visible when the barer is crying or distressed.

• Strawberry marks

These are caused by an overgrowth of tiny blood capillaries. A common skin mark, these bright red or purple patches are raised soft swellings that very often grow before eventually shrinking and disappearing altogether. Some strawberry marks continue to grow until your baby is about nine months old but it is not unusual for a child over 2 years to have a strawberry mark. It is generally not recommended that any treatment be given to remove these mark as they do tend to disappear on their own and most treatments lead to some form of scarring.

• Spider marks

These are medically known as spider naevi, and are a collection of small broken blood capillaries that are visible just under your baby's fine skin. The medical term for them is 'spider naevi'. Most disappear in the first two years of life.

• Mongolian spots

This term describes a patch of bluish skin - it almost looking like a bruise - that commonly appears across the lower back and buttocks of babies with darker skin. The mark is the result of an accumulation of pigment under the skin. These marks are often present at birth but may appear in the hours or days after birth. Completely harmless, mongolian spots usually fade away within the first 3 years of life.

• Birthmarks

This term most commonly describes the variety of brown marks on the skin. Most usual are the flat, pale coffee-coloured birthmarks that grow as your child grows without ever becoming darker; or moles, a dark brown, slightly raised area on the skin.

• Port wine marks

Often referred to as port wine stains, these bright red or purple birthmarks are caused by dilated capillaries in the skin. Port wine marks are permanent and will not fade. They are more commonly found on the neck and face and some may be removed by laser treatment when your child is older. 

Can I have my baby's birthmark removed?

 

Parents are often tempted to have disfiguring birthmarks removed, but it can be better to leave them untreated unless they begin to interfere with the body's functions. Sometimes strawberry haemangiomas may require treatment, if they're on or close to an eye, or the throat or mouth. Consult your doctor if you're worried about a birthmark. 

Treatment options

 

Depending on the type and severity of the birthmark, these include cryosurgery (freezing off the birthmark), surgery, laser therapy, the application of steroids or other medication. There may be some scarring, which can sometimes be improved with plastic surgery.

Port-wine stains are sometimes difficult to remove completely, particularly if the mark is dark, but they can usually be made lighter with laser therapy. Some laser treatments work better and leave less scarring when carried out on adults rather than children.

Moles can usually be surgically removed but may leave some scarring.