Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Birthmarks are skin abnormalities that appear shortly after birth or in the first few weeks of life. They are usually non-cancerous. They can occur anywhere on the face or body. Birthmarks vary in color, size, appearance and shape. Some are permanent and may grow over time. Others disappear completely. Most birthmarks are harmless, but some indicate a medical condition. In some cases, moles may be removed for cosmetic reasons.
Birthmarks – causes
There is a popular myth linking birthmarks to an unsatisfied appetite for food in pregnant women, but this is not true. Birthmarks aren’t caused by anything a pregnant woman does or doesn’t do during pregnancy. The root cause of birthmarks is unknown.
Some birthmarks are hereditary, but most aren’t. Very rarely, some are caused by gene mutations. For example, some babies born with a vascular birthmark (nevus flammeus) have a rare disease called Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome. This condition is caused by a genetic mutation that is generally not inherited. Another rare disease, Sturge-Weber syndrome, also manifests as vascular moles and is caused by another gene mutation. It also cannot be inherited.
Zobacz: Skin changes – as evidenced by spots, blisters, pimples and discoloration on the body?
Birthmarks – types
Many birthmarks fall into one of two categories, each having a different cause.
- Vascular moles (angiomas) occur when blood vessels in a specific area of the skin do not form as they should. For example, there may be too many blood vessels concentrated in one area, or the blood vessels may be wider than they should be.
- Pigmented moles appear when there is an excess of pigment cells in one area. Pigment cells give the skin a natural color.
Pigmented moles
These birthmarks appear when we have more pigment in one part of the skin than in others. The types of pigmented nevi include:
Birthmarks
Birthmarks (congenital nevus), also known as moles, are pink to light brown or black in color. They vary in size and can be flat or convex. They are usually round in shape. Birthmarks can appear anywhere on the face or body. Some of them are fading away, but others will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Although the risk is low, a birth birthmark can develop into melanoma – the most lethal form of skin cancer – later in life. If we or our baby has a mole that was present at birth, it should be checked by a dermatologist at least once a year.
Do you want to talk to a specialist? Make an appointment with a dermatologist using the Medonet Market offer.
If we find that a mole or freckle is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, or any features of the ABCDE melanoma scale (see below), contact a dermatologist to examine the nevus.
ABCDE of melanoma
A – Asymmetry (asymmetry). One half of the birthmark does not match the other half.
B – Brzegi (borders). The edge or edges of the birthmark are jagged or irregular.
C – Color. The color of the birthmark is not the same or has shades of brown, black, blue, white or red.
D – Diameter. The diameter of the birthmark is larger than that of a pencil eraser (more than 0,5 cm).
E – Evolution. A birthmark changes size, shape, or color.
Plamy coffee with milk
These birthmarks are somewhat oval in shape and are translated from French as “coffee with milk”. They are often light brown in color. The darker our skin is naturally, the darker our café au lait stain will be.
This type of birthmark can occur at any time from birth to early childhood. These birthmarks may become larger, but they often fade away. Some children have more than one ‘coffee-milk stain’. If a child has several of these moles, they may also suffer from a rare disease called neurofibromatosis, which causes abnormal cell growth in the nerve tissues.
A large café au lait stain with ragged edges may be associated with a rare genetic condition called McCune-Albright syndrome.
Check: White spots on the legs – what causes them?
Mongolian spots
These flat, bluish-gray patches mainly occur in children with naturally dark skin (such as children of Asian, African, Hispanic, Indian, and Southern European descent). They are not harmful, but are sometimes mistaken for bruising. Mongolian spots usually occur on the lower back and buttocks. They usually disappear completely by age 4.
Vascular moles
Sometimes a few extra blood vessels stick together and you can see this cluster on the skin. This is called a vascular birthmark. Vascular moles occur in about 40 percent of newborns.
Salmon stain
Salmon stains (simple nephew) are red or pink patches often found between the eyes, on the eyelids, or on the back of the neck. The ones that appear on the forehead are called “angel’s kisses” and those on the back of the neck are called “stork bites”. They are caused by clusters of small blood vessels under the skin. They usually disappear by the time a child is 1 to 2 years old, although some persist into adulthood. They are commonly seen in 30 to 40% of newborns.
The salmon patches on the nape and head usually persist and are often covered with hair.
Vascular birthmark
Vascular moles (haemangioma) may be pink, blue or bright red in color. They are often found on the limbs, head, or neck. Hemangiomas may initially be small in size and flat in shape. They sometimes grow in the first few months of a baby’s life, becoming bulky and larger.
Many hemangiomas disappear completely by the time a child reaches adolescence. Sometimes they leave a pale mark. These traces may be referred to as cherry or strawberry hemangiomas. Vascular moles are more common in Caucasians, twins and women. Premature babies are also more likely to develop hemangiomas.
Some rapidly growing hemangiomas require medical removal to ensure they are not interfering with the baby’s eyesight or breathing. Children with multiple skin hemangiomas should be examined for internal hemangiomas.
Read: Closing blood vessels. What methods are effective?
Port wine vascular nevus
Vascular nevus, type port wine (nevus flammeus) are caused by the small blood vessels forming abnormally under the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body, but are often found on the face and neck. These birthmarks may be pink or red at first and turn dark red or purple in color. Besides, their name comes from their color, which is similar to that of port wine, the fortified red wine from Portugal.
These types of birthmarks do not fade over time and can become darker if left untreated. The skin can also become very dry, thick or have an irregular texture. Port wine nevi that appear on the eyelids may require treatment or monitoring. Rarely, these types of birthmarks can be associated with genetic diseases.
Vascular nevi, such as port wine, are neither painful nor itchy. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish them from other birthmarks, such as a salmon spot or vascular mole (haemangioma)but our child’s doctor can diagnose it based on his appearance.
Birthmarks – removal
Most birthmarks are harmless and do not need to be removed. Some birthmarks can cause anxiety because of their appearance. Other types of birthmarks, such as a blood vessel nevus (haemangioma) or birthmarks (congenital nevus) can lead to an increased risk of certain conditions, such as skin cancer. These birthmarks should be monitored by a dermatologist and may also require removal.
Check: Skin problems and e-visit to a dermatologist
Removal of birthmarks – laser therapy
Laser therapy can remove or significantly lighten vascular moles, such as port wine, making them less visible. This type of surgery is performed by a dermatologist or surgeon. This treatment uses highly concentrated pulsating light beams that can be modulated in terms of force.
Laser therapy may be most effective when started in infancy, but it can also be used in older children and adults. Usually it will take several treatments. Laser treatments can be uncomfortable and may require local anesthesia. They often give lasting results. However, it should be added that temporary swelling or bruising may occur in their case.
Removal of birthmarks – Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are oral medications used to treat high blood pressure. Propranolol is a type of beta-blocker that can also be used to reduce the size or appearance of vascular moles (haemangioma). It works by constricting the blood vessels and reducing blood flow. This causes softening, fading and shrinking of the vascular nevus. Another beta blocker, timolol, may be applied topically and may produce similar results.
Removal of birthmarks – corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can be taken by mouth or injected directly into moles. They act directly in the blood vessels to help reduce the size of the birthmarks.
Removal of birthmarks – operation
Some birthmarks can be successfully treated with surgery. These include very deep vascular moles that can damage the surrounding healthy tissue. Some large birthmarks may also be removed.
Removal of birthmarks is usually performed on an outpatient basis and may even be performed in a dermatologist’s office rather than in a hospital. The doctor uses a small scalpel to remove the birthmark after administering local anesthesia. If the birthmark is large, it can be removed in fragments in several visits.
Tissue expansion is another surgical technique that is sometimes used to reduce scars left behind after surgical removal of moles. It requires the balloon to be placed under the healthy skin next to the birthmark. This causes new, healthy skin to grow as a kind of flap. This flap is used to cover the area where the birthmark was previously located. The balloon is then removed.
Birthmarks – complications
The vast majority of birthmarks do not pose long-term health problems. Many of them eventually fade away.
That being said, some birthmarks, including strawberry hemangiomas, can turn into an open wound and develop an infection if they’re in an area that is frequently irritated. According to the Genetics Home Reference library, people with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus have a 5 to 10% chance of developing melanoma, which is an aggressive skin cancer.
In addition, if you have port wine moles around your eye, you are at greater risk of developing glaucoma. A child with strawberry hemangioma on the eyelid requires prompt treatment, otherwise the risk of developing vision problems increases. Likewise, strawberry hemangioma, which makes it difficult to breathe or feed, can be life-threatening and requires prompt treatment.
Very rarely, vascular moles such as port wine can occur due to Sturge-Weber syndrome, a blood vessel condition that affects the eyes, brain and skin.
Birthmarks – monitoring skin changes
Most types of birthmarks are harmless and disappear on their own. The pediatrician should be informed of any birthmarks our child has. They can help us monitor the birthmark for growth. Doctors can also determine if a birthmark is related to a genetic condition that requires treatment.
Monitoring baby birthmarks is important and should be done by both parents and a doctor. It is worth paying attention to changes such as an increase in size, a prominent mole or a darkening of the pigmentation. If we notice a rapid increase in birthmarks, let the child’s doctor know.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that birthmarks can sometimes turn into skin cancer. This is rare in children but becomes more disturbing in adults. It is important to let your child know the importance of monitoring moles for changes with age. Note the variation in color, size and shape. Birthmarks with irregular margins should also be noticed by a dermatologist.
Birthmarks – the psychological aspect
At first, you may be shocked to see a birthmark in our newborn. If a birthmark is clearly visible, people may ask questions and pay attention to the change in our baby’s skin, which may seem rude. It is helpful to prepare a simple explanation to deal with it. Most people don’t mean anything wrong with it, but it’s also a good idea to let them know if they’ve gone too far.
Even at an early age, children watch their parents react to these situations. Here they learn to deal with the reactions of others. Speaking upright and openly about birthmarks with children makes them more likely to accept them as another part of their body, such as their hair color. It is helpful to practice simple responses that the children can use if asked, such as “It’s just a birthmark. I was born with him. It also helps children to be emotionally associated with supportive family and friends who treat them normally.