Birthmarks

Birthmarks

While it isn’t medically necessary to treat most birthmarks, if you have a prominent birthmark that makes you feel less confident, you may be wondering how to remove it. Most birthmarks can be removed or at least made less noticeable. These markings can be challenging to treat without the proper expertise. Birthmarks can be treated with laser, medication or surgical removed. Your dermatologist will help decide the best treatment option for the type of birthmark you have.

What are vascular birthmarks?

Vascular birthmarks develop when blood vessels near the surface of the skin do not form correctly, creating an overgrowth of cells. The most common type of vascular pigmentations include:

• Port Wine Stains – These birthmarks are reddish discolorations, most often appearing on the face, neck, arms, and legs. In some cases, they can be quite large, covering a significant portion of the face or limb. They are caused by dilated capillaries just underneath the surface of the skin.
• Hemangiomas – Deep pigmentation that may look like a red mark (strawberry mark). They originate with a cluster of larger blood vessels that begin growing prior to birth. We use lasers to treat the red component in hemangiomas.
• Venous Malformations – These malformations are caused by defects within the veins and can often resemble a varicose vein. The markings are bluish in color since they are deeper beneath the skin’s surface. Venous malformations do not go away naturally – they always require treatment to eliminate.

What are pigmented birthmarks?

Pigmented birthmarks are the result of large concentrations of melanin in one spot, and are usually brown in color. Some types of pigmented birthmarks include:

• Café Au Lait Spots – Pigmentations that are light tan in color that looks as though coffee with milk has been spilled on the skin.
• Nevus of Ota -This discoloration is typically brown or blue and appears around the eyes. Pigment can also occur in the whites of the eyes.
• Epidermal Nevi – Birthmarks that are light or dark brown and tend to grow thicker over time. They form in clusters and can resemble warts.
• Moles – (also known as nevi or nevus) Moles are a general term for any tan, black, or brown discoloration on the skin that may be present at birth or develop later in life. It is crucial to monitor moles for any changes in size, color, texture, and sensation to determine whether or not they have become cancerous.