Birthmarks (Infants)
Some newborn babies are born with birthmarks that can be a bit alarming at first. Some birthmarks disappear after a few years, and others remain throughout the child’s lifetime. These are the most common types of birthmarks:
- Stork bites
- Café au lait marks
- Strawberry hemangioma
- Moles
- Port wine stains
- Mongolian spots
Stork bites
Stork bites are pink, irregular-shaped patches on the neck or face, which disappear over time.
- For a photo of stork bites, visit the Stanford School of Medicine website.
Café au lait marks
Café au lait marks are tan coloured patches – hence the name “café au lait” – that can occur anywhere on the newborn baby’s body. They do not disappear over time. If your baby has many café au lait marks, let your doctor know, as it may be a sign that your baby needs further investigations.
- For a photo of café au lait marks, visit the Stanford School of Medicine website.
Strawberry hemangioma
A strawberry hemangioma, also called a capillary hemangioma or a strawberry mark, is a red, raised blotch with a soft texture. It may be as small as a kernel of corn or larger than a baseball. Strawberry hemangiomas form when there is an abnormal blood supply to a part of the skin, which causes the skin to swell and turn red. Hemangiomas typically increase in size after birth then gradually disappear by about five to 10 years of age. Treatment may be needed if the hemangioma is close to the eye and interferes with vision. As any hemangioma on the face region may eventually affect sight, your doctor should follow the growth of this hemangioma to make sure it disappears properly.
Moles
Moles are also called congenital pigmented nevi. They can range from light to dark, and they may have hair growing from them. Moles are not usually a cause for concern. Notify your doctor if there are changes in the moles appearance.
Port wine stains
Port wine stains are large, flat, dark red or purple spots on the skin, caused by too many blood vessels under the skin. Port wine stains do not disappear over time.
- For a photo of port wine stains, visit the Stanford School of Medicine website.
Mongolian spots
Mongolian spots are greenish or bluish spots that look like a bruise under the skin. They typically occur on the bottom or back of babies who are black, Asian, Mediterranean, or otherwise dark in complexion.
Mongolian spots usually fade within the first year.
Services related to this information:
- Contact your Public Health Nurse
- 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555