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Infant Birthmark




Some babies, about 20-40% of them have some form of birthmark that develops right after birth but mostly during the neonatal phase (weeks post delivery). Birthmarks come in different colors, with regular or irregular borders and can be either raised or flat. These birthmarks are usually harmless and tend to fade or become less visible with time. Birth marks tend to be either vascular or pigmented. Marks that do not clear up can be treated with laser surgery.








Birthmarks aren't preventable, in fact the cause of it is unknown and has nothing to do with what the mother did or didn't do during pregnancy. They can be inherited but most of the time they are not.







Birthmarks tend to grow larger before they show signs of fading or shrinking. It is a good idea to document these changes periodically. Some doctors do it, otherwise you can do so yourself. On the flipside birthmarks can be an indication of other health problems, so be sure to check with the doctor when in doubt. Below is a brief explanation of the more common ones






Salmon patch

Salmon patch is quite a common one. It is flat, reddish pink in color and most apparent during the newborn days. They tend to show up on the neck area (therefore nicknamed stork bite) or on the eyelid (angel's kiss), forehead, nose and mouth. Typically the ones on the neck area tend to persist longer than the ones that appear on the face. In general these patches tend to lighten over the first two years of life or are covered by the hair, but in some individuals they can persist into adulthood.




Mongolian Spots

The spots are bluish-grey and flat and are often found in the sacral region i.e. the back and buttocks of babies, and sometimes the legs or shoulders (especially darker toned babies). They resemble bruises and are most often found in infants of African, Asian and Indian descent. Mongolian spots tend to appear in newborns and disappear within the first two years, but they can sometimes persist in children of school going age.




Hemangioma

Popularly referred to as strawberry marks, they can be small as a freckle or much bigger. These are growths of immature blood vessels, or capillaries. They are quite common making appearance in the first week of life. The more common version appears as raised, firm red areas- akin to strawberries. The less common ones appear as bluish lump which arise from the deeper folds of the skin, and take a much longer time to regress and may even require treatment. Strawberry marks mostly manifest on the face, chest and scalp, and are more common in girls and preemies. At first when they appear they are very small in size and then grow rapidly during the first 6 months only to shrink over a period of years and disappear without scarring. No treatment is required because there can be complications, unless there is an infection or it bleeds or it interferes with functions such as vision or feeding. Between the ages of 6-10 these marks fade to a whitish grey and most disappear totally.






Freckles are not considered birthmarks.





Port Wine Stain

These are essentially mature dilated blood vessels that appear as flat, reddish-purple stains, showing up at birth on any part of the body. Its growth is in proportion to the child. Though they may change color slightly, they are however considered permanent. Since these marks do not go away they can be treated with laser therapy, especially if they cover a wide area or are cosmetically inappropriate.




Cafe au lait Spots

These spots are fairly common and can appear on any part of the body. Sometimes they grow in number as the child grows. They appear as flat patches on the skin and can range from tan to light brown in color. They are quite common and tend to appear from birth or develop during the first few years of life. They do not disappear.




You should get your doctor to evaluate when it first appears so that proper guidance can be sought on treatment or any action if necessary. Call your doctor if there is any bleeding, pain, itches or becomes infected.


 
 
 
 
 
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Disclaimer: Information contained on this Web site is intended solely to make available general summarized information to the public. It should not be substituted for medical advice. It is your responsibility to consult with your pediatrician and/or health care provider before acting on any advice on this web site. While OEM endeavors to provide up-to-date and accurate information, it is not liable for any advice whatsoever rendered nor is it liable for the completeness or timeliness of any information on this site.
 
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