Everything You Need to Know About Birthmarks

Birthmarks are common growths or lesions that appear on your skin at birth or shortly after birth. They can occur anywhere on your face, scalp, or body and can vary in color, size, appearance, and shape. Some birthmarks can be flesh-colored but may have a different texture than the rest of your skin.

Some birthmarks are permanent and may get larger over time. Others fade away completely.

Most birthmarks are harmless, but some indicate an underlying medical condition. In rare cases, birthmarks may be cancerous.

In some instances, birthmarks may be removed for cosmetic reasons.

You may have heard tales connecting birthmarks to unmet food cravings, but that’s a myth.

Birthmarks aren’t caused by anything that a pregnant woman does or doesn’t do during her pregnancy. The underlying reason why birthmarks form is unknown.

Are birthmarks genetic?

Some birthmarks are hereditary and run in families, but most aren’t. Very occasionally, some are caused by gene mutations.

For example, some babies born with a type of birthmark called port-wine stains (because they look similar to a splash of wine) may have a rare condition called Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. This condition is caused by a genetic mutation that isn’t generally inherited.

Another rare condition, Sturge-Weber syndrome, also appears as port-wine birthmarks along a specific branch of nerves and is caused by a different gene mutation. It also doesn’t run in families and can’t be inherited.

Can birthmarks appear later in life?

Birthmarks refer to skin spots that are apparent at birth or shortly afterward. In rare cases, some birthmarks may appear on the skin during childhood. Other types of marks on your skin such as moles may occur later on in life but aren’t considered birthmarks.

• Pigmented birthmarks occur when there’s an overabundance of pigment cells, or melanocytes, in one area. Pigment cells are what give your skin its natural color.
• Vascular birthmarks occur if blood vessels in a particular area of your skin don’t form the way they should. For example, there may be too many blood vessels clustered in one area or the blood vessels may be wider than they should be.

Pigmented birthmarks

These birthmarks occur when you have more pigment in one part of your skin than in other parts. Types of pigmented birthmarks include:

Moles (congenital nevi)

Moles range in color from pink to light brown or black. They vary in size and may be flat or raised.

Moles can occur anywhere on your face or body. Some moles fade away but others last for life. A change in a mole may sometimes be linked to skin cancer.

Café au lait spots

These birthmarks can be irregular in shape and range in size, and translate as “coffee with milk” in French. They’re often pale brown in color. The darker your skin is naturally, the darker your café au lait spot will be.

This type of birthmark may occur at any time from birth through early childhood. They may become larger in size but often fade. Some children have more than one café au lait spot.

Several café au lait spots may indicate a rare medical condition called neurofibromatosis. Diagnosis depends on the presence of six or more spots. Multiple café au lait spots can also indicate other genetic syndromes.

Mongolian spots

These flat, bluish-gray spots mostly occur in people with naturally dark skin. They’re not harmful but are sometimes mistaken for bruising.

Mongolian spots typically occur on the lower back and buttocks. They usually fade away within a few years.

Vascular birthmarks

Sometimes extra blood vessels will clump together and create a visible cluster. This is called a vascular birthmark. Vascular birthmarks occur in around 40 percent of newborns.

Salmon patches

These red or pink patches often occur in the area between the eyes, on eyelids, or on the back of the neck. They’re sometimes referred to as angel kisses or stork bites.

They’re caused by clusters of small blood vessels under the skin. Salmon patches sometimes fade in color and don’t require medical treatment.

Hemangiomas

These birthmarks may appear pink, blue, or bright red in color. They’re often found on the extremities, head, or neck.

Hemangiomas may start out small in size and flat in shape. Sometimes they grow during the first few months of a baby’s life, becoming elevated and larger. They usually stop growing between 6-18 months.

Many hemangiomas fade away completely by the time a child reaches adolescence. They sometimes leave a pale mark. These marks may be referred to as cherry or strawberry hemangiomas.

Some fast-growing hemangiomas require medical removal to ensure that they don’t interfere with a child’s vision or breathing. Children with multiple hemangiomas on their skin should be checked for internal hemangiomas.

Port-wine stains (nevus flammeus)

Port-wine stains are caused by abnormal formation of small blood vessels under the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body but are often found on the face and neck.

Port-wine stains may start out as pink or red and turn dark red or purple. They don’t fade over time and may become darker if left untreated. The skin may also become very dry, thick, or pebbled in texture.

Port-wine stains that occur on eyelids may require medical treatment or monitoring. Rarely, these types of birthmarks may be associated with genetic conditions.

Most birthmarks are harmless and don’t require removal. However, you may want to remove a birthmark if you dislike its appearance.

Other types of birthmarks, such as hemangiomas — depending on their location — or moles, may lead to an increased risk for certain medical conditions, such as skin cancer. These birthmarks should be monitored by a dermatologist and may also require removal.

You can connect to a dermatologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.

Techniques for removing birthmarks include:

Laser therapy

Laser therapy can remove or significantly lighten port-wine stains, making them less visible. This type of treatment is performed by a dermatologist or surgeon. It uses highly concentrated pulsing beams of light that can be modulated for strength.

Laser therapy may be most successful when it’s started in infancy but can also be used on older children and adults. You’ll usually need several treatments.

Laser treatments can be uncomfortable and may require a local anesthetic. They often produce permanent results. Temporary swelling or bruising may occur.

Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers are oral medications used to treat high blood pressure.

Propranolol is a type of beta-blocker that may also be used to reduce the size or appearance of hemangiomas. It works by shrinking the blood vessels and reducing blood flow. This causes the hemangioma to soften, fade, and shrink.

Another beta-blocker, timolol, can be applied topically and may have similar results.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications that can be taken orally or injected directly into birthmarks. They work directly in the blood vessels, helping to shrink the size of the birthmark.

Surgery

Some birthmarks may be successfully treated via surgical removal. These include very deep hemangiomas which might damage the healthy tissue surrounding them. Some large moles may also be removed.

Birthmark removal is typically done on an outpatient basis and may even be done in a dermatologist’s office rather than a hospital. A doctor uses a small scalpel to remove the birthmark after administering local anesthesia. If the birthmark is large, it may be removed in sections over the course of several appointments.

Tissue expansion is another surgical technique that’s sometimes used to reduce the scarring left by surgical removal of birthmarks.

It requires the insertion of a balloon under the healthy skin located next to the birthmark. This causes new, healthy skin to grow as a type of flap. This flap is used to cover the area where the birthmark was previously. The balloon is then removed.

Most types of birthmarks are harmless and may fade on their own.

You should point out any birthmark your baby or child has to their pediatrician. They can help you monitor the birthmark for growth. They can also determine if the birthmark is associated with a genetic condition that requires treatment.

Monitoring your child’s birthmark is important and should be done by both yourself and a doctor. Look for changes, such as:

• size growth
• elevation
• darkening of pigmentation

If you notice rapid growth in a birthmark, let your doctor know.

Moles can sometimes turn into skin cancer. This is rare in children but becomes more of a concern in adults. It’s important that you let your child know the importance of monitoring their moles for changes as they get older.

Things to look for include:

• change in color
• change in size
• change in shape
• moles that grow irregular borders

If you notice these changes, speak with a dermatologist.

Birthmarks are common in newborns. There are two types: pigmented and vascular.

Most birthmarks are harmless and many fade completely over time. Some, such as port-wine stains, are permanent and may even occur on the face. These can be removed using treatment such as laser therapy.

Treatments to remove birthmarks are often most effective when started during infancy.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer and reproductive health professional who specializes in health and wellness content. She’s a science nerd, but her heroes span the gamut from Temple Grandin to her mom. Corey’s work is featured in multiple media outlets, including CBS Local, Cinch, Care.com, and Reader’s Digest. She shares her life in Brooklyn, NY, with two all-grown-up, fantastic children and a couple of wacky shelter dogs.