What are Birthmarks?
Birthmarks are common skin discolorations or growths present at birth or shortly after. Most birthmarks are harmless and do not pose health concerns. Birthmarks generally fall into two primary categories: pigmented and vascular.
Pigmented birthmarks occur when there are excess pigment cells and are broken into three subcategories: café-au-lait spots, moles, and Mongolian spots. Café-au-lait spots are flat, oval, or round patches that range in color from light tan to dark brown. Moles are brown or tan, small to large, or flat, raised spots that resemble smooth, warty, or bumpy growths. Mongolian spots are flat, bluish-gray patches that usually appear on the lower back or buttocks, primarily in infants with darker skin tones.
Vascular birthmarks are caused by abnormal blood vessels and are usually red, pink, and/or purple. The first type of vascular birthmark is a salmon patch, a flat, light pink or red patch typically located on the eyelids, forehead, or back of the neck. Another type of vascular birthmark is a hemangioma, which is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that appears as bright red or bluish-gray raised bumps deep beneath the skin. Lastly, there are port-wine stains, which are flat, discolored patches that look like dark red wine splashed on the skin.
