Home
Bupa members

Support and offers for individual members and customers

Birthmarks

Published by Bupa's health information team, February 2008.

This factsheet is for parents of children who have a birthmark, or who would like information about them.

Birthmarks are darker or coloured patches on the skin that are either present at birth, or develop very soon afterwards. The medical name for a birthmark is naevus (the plural is naevi). Most birthmarks are harmless and don't need any treatment. However, occasionally there are medical reasons that mean it's necessary for the birthmark to be treated. You may also wish to have treatment for cosmetic reasons.

About birthmarks

Approximately one in three children is born with some type of birthmark. Birthmarks may develop on or just below the surface of the skin. There are a number of different types and these all vary in size and colour. Some birthmarks will fade away as the child grows up but others will be permanent.

Types of birthmark

There are many different types of birthmark. Most of them are caused by a problem with the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) in the skin. These are called vascular birthmarks. Some of the most common types are described here.

Strawberry mark (capillary haemangioma)

About one in 10 babies will develop a strawberry mark during the first couple of months after birth. These birthmarks get their name because sometimes they look similar to a strawberry. They can appear anywhere on the skin, but six out of 10 are found on the face or neck. They start off as a small, red patch which increases in size over about three to nine months and becomes a bright, red lump. It then stops growing and slowly shrinks.

You may be worried about your child's strawberry mark, but most won't need any treatment and gradually disappear over time. As a guide:

  • three out of 10 have gone by the time the child is three years old
  • five out of 10 have gone by the time the child is five years old
  • seven out of 10 have gone by the time the child is seven years old

Port wine stain (naevus flammeus)

These are present at birth and affect about one in 3,000 babies. They are flat marks that are red/purple in colour, and vary in size and shape. They can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, upper chest and back. Port wine stains usually only affect one side of the body.

This type of birthmark is permanent and may get bigger and darker as your child grows up. It may also develop an uneven or lumpy surface later.

Stork mark/salmon patch (naevus simplex)

These are the most common type of vascular birthmark - about half of all babies are born with a stork mark. They are flat red marks usually found on the eyelids, bridge of the nose, upper lip or nape of the neck. The majority of stork marks fade away, although some on the neck may last longer.

Mongolian blue spot

Mongolian blue spots are blue/black areas of skin that appear most often on the buttocks and lower back. They are more common in babies of African, Chinese or Japanese origin. If your child has this type of birthmark, it will probably have disappeared by the time he/she is about five years old.

Congenital melanocytic naevus

These aren't vascular birthmarks, but are areas where large numbers of cells called melanocytes have grouped together. Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin which gives your skin its colour - where they cluster together the skin is darker. Their colour varies from mid-brown to black, depending on your child's natural skin tone. They may be raised or have hairs growing out of them. Congenital melanocytic naevi are most often found on the back and sometimes on the head and neck.

Complications

Most birthmarks are harmless and some will fade away. However, some children may have more serious problems as a result of their birthmark.

  • If your child has a strawberry mark, it may become ulcerated or develop an open sore which can be painful and may become infected; if so, it's important to seek medical attention. Ulcers usually heal within a few weeks, otherwise laser treatment should be considered. Strawberry marks may need treating soon after birth if they interfere with feeding, breathing or are in the nappy area. If one grows on the eyelid, it will need to be treated within the first few weeks of life, otherwise it may seriously interfere with the development of the baby's vision.
  • Port wine stains on the face can occasionally be related to a condition called Sturge-Weber syndrome. This is a disorder of the nervous system that can lead to epilepsy, glaucoma (a disease of the eye that can cause blindness) and learning difficulties. However, this is very rare and affects fewer than one in 10 children who have port wine stains.
  • There is a slightly increased risk that melanocytic naevi may develop into a type of skin cancer called melanoma. The chance of this happening is uncertain, although it may be as little as one in 100.

Causes

The exact reasons why some babies have or develop birthmarks are not fully understood at present. It's not thought that vascular birthmarks are inherited. However, there is some evidence that melanocytic naevi may possibly run in families.

Vascular birthmarks appear to be the result of something going wrong during the development of capillaries in the skin.

Strawberry marks are thought to be caused because there is overgrowth of the cells that make up the lining of the skin's blood vessels.

Port wine stains are areas of the skin where the nerves that control the widening and narrowing of the capillaries are damaged. This means that the blood vessels are always open, so the skin over them appears darker because there is a constant flow of blood to it.

Diagnosis

If your child has a birthmark that you are concerned about, you should see your GP. He or she will be able to tell what sort of birthmark it is by its appearance and by asking you about its development (for example, how much it's grown if it's a strawberry mark).

Your child may be referred to a paediatrician (a doctor specialising in identifying and treating conditions in children), a dermatologist (a doctor specialising in identifying and treating skin conditions) or to a birthmark specialist.

Treatment

Some birthmarks disappear without needing any treatment. However, you or your child may decide to have treatment if the birthmark causes problems or if it's unsightly.

If a strawberry mark bleeds a lot or becomes infected, you should clean it, cover it with a sterile dressing and see your GP for advice.

Some strawberry marks will need laser treatment because they cause more serious problems. A laser is directed at the birthmark and the capillaries there are carefully burned. This means that there is no longer a blood supply to the area. This can help strawberry marks to shrink and heal more quickly.

Your child may be prescribed steroids with or without laser treatment. These will either be given as injections or taken orally.

You or your child may wish to have treatment for a port wine stain. This will be done under general anaesthetic if your child is very young or if the birthmark is very big. This means your child will be asleep during the procedure and will feel no pain. Adults having laser treatment will usually only need a local anaesthetic - this completely blocks feeling from the area and you will stay awake during the procedure.

It may be necessary to have several laser treatment sessions - this depends on how big and how dark the port wine stain is. There can be side-effects from laser treatment such as short-term pain and bruising immediately afterwards. There is also the possibility of scarring, although this is rare. However, treatment can be very successful and it's likely that the birthmark will be much less noticeable than before.

Living with birthmarks

If your child has a birthmark that is very visible, you may sometimes find other people's reactions difficult to deal with. Your child may also have questions or find that other children make comments. It's important to be prepared for this and help your child to be confident in coping with situations that may arise. There are support groups that can offer you information and advice.

Skin camouflage

You may wish to use skin camouflage products. These are special creams and powders that match your usual skin tone, without you needing to apply a thick layer. When they are used properly, it's usually not possible to see your birthmark.

Further information

Related topics

Moles

Sources

  • Vascular birthmarks. UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust. www.ich.ucl.ac.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Vascular birthmarks - salmon patches, port wine stains and strawberry marks. British Association of Dermatologists. www.bad.org.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006
  • Mongolian blue spot. National Childbirth Trust. www.nct.org.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Birthmarks. Symptoms. NHS Direct. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Port wine stains and Sturge Weber syndrome. Sturge Weber Foundation UK. www.sturgeweber.org.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Atherton DJ. Congenital melanocytic naevi. www.birthmarksupportgroup.org.uk, accessed 14 January 2008
  • Melanocytic naevi. British Association of Dermatologists. www.bad.org.uk, accessed 18 October 2007
  • Pulse dye laser treatment. Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. www.bch.org.uk, accessed 19 October 2007
  • Bringing up a child whose face looks different. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children HNS Trust. www.ich.ucl.ac.uk, accessed 19 October 2007
  • The British Association of Skin Camouflage. The British Association of Skin Camouflage. www.skin-camouflage.net, accessed 19 October 2007

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Dr James Quekett Bsc MBChB MRCGP DRCOG DFFP, General Practitioner and GP Appraiser, Gloucestershire, and by Bupa doctors. It has also been reviewed by the Birthmark Support Group. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: February 2008.

 

Rate this page

Feedback

Have you found the information in this factsheet helpful? Do take a couple of moments to give us your feedback.

Click here to give us your feedback

Up to £100 off a Bupa Health assessment

Bupa health insurance

Free online health check

Bupa Care Homes

Bupa travel cover