baby birthmarks

One in three babies is born with a birthmark. These are neither painful nor harmful, although about one in a hundred will require medical treatment. If the birthmark is hidden from view, it’s usually not a problem, but if it’s on the face or neck, parents will often want to do everything they can to remove the mark, especially if the baby is a girl.

Types of birthmarks

• Naevi Strawberry Brands – these often appear at the age of 2-3 weeks, are red in color and can feel lumpy. They often grow in size over 6-9 months.
• stork bites – also called ‘salmon patch’, pink in color, lies on the skin and does not grow. Stork bites usually disappear within the first two years.
• Port Wine Stains – as the name implies, these markings are reddish-purple in color and can cover quite a large area.

Treatment

Stork bites do not require treatment. Strawberry marks are usually treated with steroid cream or, in extreme cases, laser. The only treatment for Port Wine marks is by laser.

Early treatment is more successful. Laser treatment is best started at the age of two and can take up to six treatments spread over three years.