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Birthmarks




Birthmarks are skin blemishes which are formed on an individual before birth. It is a type of skin lesion known as 'naevi'. Exact causes of birthmarks are not known medically, but it has been assumed that these are not hereditary in nature. Resembling raised swellings on the skin, birthmarks are generally red in color.

Sometimes it may resemble the color of a strawberry. Also known as 'infantile haemangiomas' or ' strawberry naevi', they usually occur on an individual on the first month of birth. It is believed that birthmarks are formed as an overgrowth of blood vessels in the skin, made up of cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels.

Another assumed theory is that, it is formed as a result of imbalance of the blood vessels. Birthmarks are more prevalent in Caucasians in comparison to Asians and Blacks. Birthmarks do not represent any sort of physiological disorder, sickness or disease.

Types of Birthmarks:


Various types of birthmarks are predominant in the population which can be briefly categorized as follows:


Categories


  • Mongolian Blue Spot:

    Mongolian Blue Spots are congenital birthmarks which have irregular shape and wavy borders. Common among Turks and East Asians, it is also present in the Native American and East African population. Although its natural color is blue, it can also be deep brown or blue-black. Mongolian Blue Spots usually disappear 3-5 years after birth and goes away normally by puberty.

  • Stork Bite / Telangiectatic nevus:

    It is also known as 'salmon patch' or 'stork bite'. Telangietatic nevi are irregular shaped patches which are pale pink to deep wine red in color. With time they may develop into ridges or bumps but do not usually disappear with aging. They are unilateral in nature and are associated with seizures and glaucoma. 'Sturge-Weber' is a condition when the mark appear on the upper eyelid, forehead or on the face.

  • Strawberry mark/ Capillary Hemangioma:

    These are red, lumpy, areas of flesh that appear mostly in the neck or head.

  • Congenital Melanocytic nevus:

    These are types of moles that are found in newborn infants. Mostly located on the head or the neck, it affects about 1% of the infants in the US. To light skinned people, it may appear as light brown patches. They have an irregular shape, are raised and are lumpy in appearance.