rare birthmarks

Any mark that is present on the skin at birth, or that develops soon afterwards, is called a birthmark. They are very common – most children have a mark of some sort. Check with your doctor if you are not sure, especially if the mark changes unexpectedly. some marks may be similar to marks on other family members, but most are not. 'Stork bite' mark Other names for 'stork bite' mark include salmon patch or telangiectatic naevus. The typical characteristics include: Pink, flat and irregular shaped marks. The skin is not thickened and you cannot feel any difference when you touch the mark. The marks usually disappear by 12 months of age, if not earlier. The mark at the back of the neck may stay for longer, but it is usually covered by hair and out of sight. Strawberry mark Another name for strawberry mark is capillary haemangioma. Sometimes the strawberry mark may grow on the face, near the eye. With some birthmarks – usually not those that have hair growing on them – there can be a risk of cancer developing later in life. A sign that cancer may be developing include changes of the skin on or around the mark. In other cases, treatment options may include: Strawberry mark – sometimes a strawberry birthmark will grow over an eye or may block one side of the nose. Congenital melanocytic naevus – sometimes these will need to be removed because they may be a cancer risk or because the child finds the mark distressing. If the mark changes, get it checked by your doctor. Port wine stain birthmarks – these don't go away by themselves. Symptoms of more serious problems Very occasionally, port wine stain birthmarks may indicate the presence of a rare underlying disorder, including: Sturge-Weber syndrome – symptoms include a port wine stain birthmark on the upper eyelid and forehead, and abnormalities of the brain (and sometimes of an eye). Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome – symptoms include a port wine stain birthmark on the leg (usually). Things to remember Any mark that is present on the skin at birth, or that develops soon afterwards, is called a birthmark. Birthmarks are very common – most children have a mark of some sort. rare birthmarks rare birthmarks