Conditions
Birthmarks
Birthmarks are dark brown or red patches on the skin caused by abnormal blood vessels. About one in three children have some sort of birthmark, and they can vary dramatically in size, shape and colour. Most birthmarks don’t cause any physical harm but kids may feel distressed and upset, especially at school, because they are marked out as ‘different’.
There are three main types of birthmark. The most common is called a ‘salmon patch’ and half of all new babies have these. Salmon patches, also known as ‘stork marks’ are small red areas of skin that appear on the eyelids, across the nose or on the back of the neck. No treatment is needed for these and they usually just fade away over time.
One in ten white kids and one in a hundred black or Asian children develop strawberry marks, also called capillary haemangioma. These appear a couple of months after birth, most commonly on the face or neck. It’s a small, red patch or lump – hence the name – which will grow during the first nine months of a baby’s life. The condition does not need treatment and seven out of ten strawberry marks have disappeared by the time the child is seven years old.
The port wine stain is a less common but more significant mark. About one in 3,000 babies have the condition. These are pink, red or purple patches on the skin, usually present from birth, and they vary from a few millimetres to several centimetres. They can appear anywhere but are more common on the face and upper part of the body, and they tend to be restricted to just one side. Port stains aren’t harmful though the area may bleed more easily, and they will get larger as your child grows up. Laser treatment can reduce the prominence of port wine stains in children, and the younger kids are when they start having treatment (it can begin at two months) the more effective it will be.
Learning to live with a prominent birthmark can be hard for kids, especially as they grow up and become more conscious of their appearance. Your doctor will be able to put you in touch with organisations such as The Birthmark Support group and Vascular Birthmarks Foundation who offer more help and guidance for kids and the families of those affected.
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Hi I'm 28 and have a port wine stain birthmark that covers the whole of my left leg. I am wanting to get a tattoo on my foot to cover it up so I can at least where flip. Flops in summer. Do u know if it is safe to tattoo over the port wine stain. I went into my local tattooist ad the guy said it was fine because it's flat.. I just want advice as I don't want to do anything dangerous!! But I want to make it look prettier.. Any advice ASAP would b great. Thanks :)
As far as I know it is safe to cover up a birthmark. I also have a birthmark on the side of my leg and plan on covering up mine with a tattoo.
I'm a 33 years old mother of a baby girl with 3 mths 28wk. We are seeking an experienced dermatologist to discuss on this birthmark. My daughter have a birthmark since born and it should be Port Wine stain. The birthmark is on her right side eyelids & face since born. I have some queries need to seek for your experience advice & information. 1.)Do you have vascular laser treatment for this birthmark? 2.)May I know the cost per treatment ? 3.)May I know whether my baby should under go for laser tratment in young age ? Im wish doctor can give a realistic idea of how well the port-wine stain can be removed and when is the suitable time. Your Favourable response to this email is highy appreciated. Best Regards,
Hello, I'm 14 and I have a brown birth mark on the side of my wrist, I've had this lump on it for ages never really thought anything of it,but occasionally i catch it and it hurts. I also get hairs on it and get really self conscious about it so i do pluck them. You see loads of programs that say get them checked out and it always worry's me, What do you think i should do? Thanks (:
My son has a birthmark on his back it is red and inflamed what should i do about it
Hi, my daughter is nearly 3 years old. She has 2 strawberry birth marks, one which is raised on top of her head and another under her chin. I'm so worried, especialy when we been abroad on holiday, she had some food poisoning and been taken to a hospital, where one if the kids doctors said we have to check them marks because they can cause lots of problems and can be cancerous. He also said he has seen cases like that and also operated some of the kids himself. I went to see GP on UK, but he told me not to worry. How can I not worry, is any place in UK where them marks could be checked?
hi my 2yr old she has a flat red patch at the botton ov her head and had it since she has been born her dad has one the last few months it is irratating her its about the size ov a 50- but its keeps gettin realy red and spreads down her neck an she itches it then it goes after a few days then come back the doc game me cream but not helped does any one no if it will be ok coz my doc diddent seem worried but i am
evreybody should think there self lucky,i have a massive birthmark that cover the half of my belly&back, its pretty big i cant wear bikinis im soo a shamed, everyone tells me not to be stupid, but it really makes me uncomfortbleL, soo people i hope this cheered you up try being me :)
I have a birthmark that covers half of my left leg. I can't hide it or anything. I never wear shorts because of it. Try living in summer wearing pants all the time and dealing with my Friends asking me "Why are you wearing pants?"
i am 12 and i have this birthmark on the back of my leg.i always wear dark black tights that dont show it or socks that cover it up so then the boys at school dont see it,i am nervous in case a boy sees it and goes ewwwwww should i be scared of showing it off or not i wanted it taking off but i didnt think i would be able to take it of if i went to the doctors what should i do ?
Hi, my daughter had a birthmark on the back of the top of her leg, looked like the batman wing sign!!! She too hated it, we tried telling her she was special etc, but kids being kids, she actually got picked on a little bit about it. She asked us and asked us to have it removed, we took her to our GP a couple of times and they were actually very understanding...........she used to wear 2 pair of 70 denier black tights so nobody could see it.The GP reffered us to a plastic surgeon, who was lovely about it, and this time last year she had the first of 3 operations to remove it,she was in and out of hospital in a day,but had alot of problems with the healing process, not many peoples bodies reject the stitches...........hers did, so it was backwards and forwards several times to hospital, had infections etc, but this didnt put her off having the next op............which she had about 8 weeks ago, so far so good, healing nicely :) She is having her hopefully final op in next few months. She is so happy having her operations, she is so much happier and has a little bit more confidence now. I hope this helps, go see your GP and tell them all about wearing thick tights in the middle of summer etc, play on it if you have to, and fingers crossed you will get referred to Hospital...............good luck :)
i am 12 and i have this birthmark on the back of my leg.i always wear dark black tights that dont show it or socks that cover it up so then the boys at school dont see it,i am nervous in case a boy sees it and goes ewwwwww should i be scared of showing it off or not i wanted it taking off but i didnt think i would be able to take it of if i went to the doctors what should i do ?
i have a browny blackish birthmark down the bottom of my leg, im too young for surgery because im under 18 and its summer now and i cant wear shorts or dresses. ive stressed over it a lot and i cry nearly every single time i look at it or see people in shorts and dresses. ive started to wear foundation(loads!) on it and you cant see it as much. do you have any ideas on what mine is. the doctors call it a mole but mine is flat and big.
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