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Summary
Birthmarks are abnormalities of the skin that are present when a baby is born. There are two types of birthmarks. Vascular birthmarks are made up of blood vessels that haven't formed correctly. They are usually red. Two types of vascular birthmarks are hemangiomas and port-wine stains. Pigmented birthmarks are made of a cluster of pigment cells which cause color in skin. They can be many different colors, from tan to brown, gray to black, or even blue. Moles can be birthmarks.
No one knows what causes many types of birthmarks, but some run in families. Your baby's doctor will look at the birthmark to see if it needs any treatment or if it should be watched. Pigmented birthmarks aren't usually treated, except for moles. Treatment for vascular birthmarks includes laser surgery.
Most birthmarks are not serious, and some go away on their own. Some stay the same or get worse as you get older. Usually birthmarks are only a concern for your appearance. But certain types can increase your risk of skin cancer. If your birthmark bleeds, hurts, itches, or becomes infected, call your health care provider.
Treatments and Therapies
- Laser/Light Therapy for Birthmarks (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
- Vascular Lesion Treatment, Laser (VisualDX)
Specifics
- Birthmarks: Signs and Symptoms (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Capillary Hemangioma (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
- Guide to Understanding Hemangiomas (Children's Craniofacial Association) - PDF
- Hemangiomas (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Port-Wine Stains (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome (Nemours Foundation)
-
Sturge-Weber Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- What does LCMN (Large Congenital Melanocytic Nevus) Mean? (Nevus Outreach, Inc.)
- What Is Hemangioma? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
Genetics
-
Giant congenital melanocytic nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Café au Lait Spot (VisualDX)
- Cherry Hemangioma (VisualDX)
- Congenital Melanocytic Nevus (Birthmark) (VisualDX)
- Port-Wine Stain (VisualDX)
- Salmon Patch (VisualDX)
- Strawberry Hemangioma (Infantile Hemangioma) (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemangioma
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Nevus
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cardiovascular safety of propranolol oral solution in infantile hemangiomas: a disproportionality...
- Article: Management of recurrent aggressive vertebral hemangiomas: a comparative study of piecemeal...
- Article: Clinicopathological features and genetic mutation spectrum of primary anastomosing hemangioma arising...
- Birthmarks -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
-
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Children
- Congenital Hemangiomas (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Infantile Hemangiomas (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- What's a Birthmark? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Birthmarks - pigmented (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cherry angioma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Dermal melanocytosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Hemangioma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Port-wine stain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Red birthmarks (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Stork bite (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.