rare birthmarks
What Is a "Vascular Birthmark?" More than one in ten babies have (red) vascular birthmarks. The most common types of vascular birthmarks are macular (flat) stains, hemangiomas, and port wine stains. There are also some very rare types of vascular birthmarks. The most common type of vascular birthmark that your physician may identify is called a macular stain. Dermatologists prefer to use the term hemangioma to refer to a common type of vascular birthmark. Hemangiomas are usually divided into two types: superficial (used to be called "strawberry" hemangiomas), and deep (used to be referred to as "cavernous" hemangiomas). without treatment at 8 months At 2.5 years Deep hemangiomas have a bluish-purple color because the abnormal vessels are deeper under the skin (like varicose veins appear blue). Hemangiomas are more common in females, more common on the head and neck, and more common in premature babies. Unlike other vascular birthmarks, hemangiomas usually grow very rapidly. Most hemangiomas never get bigger than two or three inches in diameter, but some may be larger. After the first year, most hemangiomas will stop growing. Half of all hemangiomas (50%) are flat by age five. It's impossible to know how big any hemangioma will grow, or if it will completely disappear. These hemangiomas should be watched closely by your dermatologist who will decide if further treatment is necessary. If the hemangioma starts to bleed, it should be treated like any other injury by cleaning the area with soap and water or hydrogen peroxide, and applying a gauze bandage. It's very important that a baby with a vascular birthmark be examined by a dermatologist as early as possible so that a correct diagnosis can be made and the possible need for treatment discussed. However, most hemangiomas do not require treatment. The most widely used treatment for rapidly growing hemangiomas is corticosteroid medication. This is either injected into the hemangioma or given by mouth. Lasers can be used to prevent growth of hemangiomas and to remove superficial hemangiomas. Hemangiomas with sores that will not heal can also be treated with lasers. The port-wine stain is another type of vascular birthmark that occurs in 3 in 1,000 infants. It is sometimes called a nevus flammeus, but it should not be confused with a hemangioma. Unlike hemangiomas, port-wine stains grow proportionately as the child grows. Over time, port-wine stains may become thick and develop small bumps or ridges. before treatment after treatment Port-wine stains, especially those on the face, can have emotional, social, and economic complications. Port-wine stains on the forehead, eyelids or both sides of the face, can be associated with glaucoma and/or seizures. These complications occur in less than half of those with port-wine stains of the forehead and eyelids. All infants with a port-wine stain in those areas should have a thorough eye examination, and if indicated, further brain imaging. Laser treatment of port-wine stains is FDA-approved and available at many dermatologists' offices around the country. In a small number of patients, lasers can totally clear up the port-wine stain. Most vascular birthmarks go away without treatment or can be treated effectively. Through research, dermatologists are learning more about the causes and treatments of all types of vascular birthmarks.
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