Birthmark Facts for Kids

A birthmark is a special mark on your skin that you are born with. These marks can look different for everyone. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some common types of birthmarks are called stork bites, Mongolian blue spots, strawberry marks, café au lait spots, and port-wine stains.

What Are Birthmarks?
- Types of Birthmarks
  - Common Vascular Birthmarks
  - Common Pigmented Birthmarks
- Do Birthmarks Need Treatment?
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What Are Birthmarks?

Birthmarks are areas of skin that have a different color or texture than the rest of your skin. They are not caused by anything a mother did during pregnancy. Instead, they happen when a baby is developing before birth. Most birthmarks are harmless and don't cause any problems.

Types of Birthmarks

There are two main types of birthmarks:

Vascular birthmarks: These are caused by blood vessels that didn't form correctly. They often look red, pink, or purple.
Pigmented birthmarks: These are caused by too much pigment (the natural color in your skin). They usually look brown, black, or blue.

Common Vascular Birthmarks

Stork Bites: These are also known as "salmon patches." They are flat, pink, or red marks often found on the back of the neck, eyelids, or forehead. They usually fade away within a few years.
Strawberry Marks: These are bright red, raised marks that look a bit like a strawberry. They are also called hemangiomas. They often appear a few weeks after birth and usually grow for a while before shrinking and fading by the time a child is 5 to 10 years old.
Port-Wine Stains: These are flat, reddish-purple marks that can appear anywhere on the body. They are caused by tiny blood vessels that are wider than normal. Unlike stork bites, port-wine stains usually do not fade over time.

Common Pigmented Birthmarks

Café au Lait Spots: These are flat, light brown marks that look like coffee with milk (that's what "café au lait" means in French!). Many people have one or two of these.
Mongolian Blue Spots: These are flat, bluish-gray marks that often look like bruises. They are most common on the lower back or bottom. They usually fade away by school age.
Congenital Melanocytic Nevi: These are moles that you are born with. They can be small or large and vary in color from light brown to black.

Do Birthmarks Need Treatment?

Most birthmarks are harmless and don't need any treatment. However, some birthmarks, like large port-wine stains or certain types of moles, might be treated for health reasons or if they are in a very noticeable place and bother the person. Doctors can use lasers or other methods to help make some birthmarks less visible.