Birthmarks Also called: Cafe au lait spot, Hemangioma, Mongolian spot, Nevus, Strawberry mark Summary Birthmarks are abnormalities of the skin that are present when a baby is born. There are two types of birthmarks. Vascular birthmarks are made up of blood vessels that haven’t formed correctly. They are usually red. Two types of vascular birthmarks are hemangiomas and port-wine stains. Pigmented birthmarks are made of a cluster of pigment cells which cause color in skin. They can be many different colors, from tan to brown, gray to black, or even blue. Moles can be birthmarks. No one knows what causes many types of birthmarks, but some run in families. Your baby’s doctor will look at the birthmark to see if it needs any treatment or if it should be watched. Pigmented birthmarks aren’t usually treated, except for moles. Treatment for vascular birthmarks includes laser surgery. Most birthmarks are not serious, and some go away on their own. Some stay the same or get worse as you get older. Usually birthmarks are only a concern for your appearance. But certain types can increase your risk of skin cancer. If your birthmark bleeds, hurts, itches, or becomes infected, call your health care provider. Images Birthmark (Congenital Melanocytic Nevus) Logical Images Café au Lait Macule Logical Images Cherry Hemangioma Logical Images Port-Wine Stain Logical Images Salmon Patch Logical Images Strawberry Hemangioma Logical Images Start Here Birthmarks Nemours Foundation Birthmarks and Hemangiomas American Academy of Pediatrics Birthmarks: Conditions, Treatments, and Pictures Logical Images Array Birthmarks – pigmented Birthmarks – red Cherry angioma Hemangioma Mongolian blue spots Port-wine stain Stork bite Specifics Capillary Hemangioma American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Different Kinds of Birthmarks American Academy of Dermatology Frequently Asked Questions about Congenital Melanocytic Nevus (CMN) Nevus Outreach, Inc. Hemangiomas American Osteopathic College of Dermatology Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Port-Wine Stains Nemours Foundation Sturge-Weber Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke What Is Hemangioma? American Academy of Ophthalmology Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemangioma National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Nevus National Institutes of Health Find an Expert Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Genetics Genetics Home Reference: giant congenital melanocytic nevus National Library of Medicine Encyclopedia Hemangioma excision – slideshow Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome Treatments and Therapies Laser Vascular Lesion Treatment Logical Images Laser/Light Therapy for Birthmarks American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Journal Articles Birthmarks Children What’s a Birthmark? Nemours Foundation
