Birthmarks are known by a variety of names, including stork marks and stork bites, in reference to the myth that storks give birth. About 10% of babies have birthmarks. Some people have them from birth, while others grow them quickly. The color, size, shape, and depth of birthmarks vary. In the majority of cases, birthmarks are harmless. In some cases, they go away as you get older, while in others, they get bigger, darker, and less attractive. Even if you’ve had a birthmark since you were a baby, Los Gatos Dermatology’s board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Bruce Saal, MD can help you get rid of it if it’s bothering you. Continue reading for everything you need to know about birthmarks and how to get rid of them if they bother you.
Birthmark causes and types
A birthmark can be a flat mark, a mole, a lack of color, dispersed freckling, or a raised mole. It can appear black, brown, pink, tan, purple, or red. It may resemble a rash, dirt, a stain, or a bruise. The majority of birthmarks are divided into two categories: pigmented birthmarks and vascular birthmarks.
Vascular birthmarks
Most birthmarks fall under this category. Their appearance is related to your skin’s blood vessels. Sometimes there are too many blood vessels, and other times there are too many or too wide blood vessels. Hemangiomas, also known as strawberry marks, macular stains, and port-wine stains are examples of these kinds of birthmarks. The first two kinds typically vanish on their own. The worst of the three is a port-wine mark. It is a deep purple stain that typically appears on the face, neck, arms, or legs. It doesn’t go away over time and usually gets bigger and darker as the child gets older.
blemishes on the skin These birthmarks are the result of skin pigment changes. They tend to be brown, black, or blue. Moles and café au lait spots are two kinds of pigmented birthmarks that are frequently seen. These types of moles tend not to fade over time.
What to do about a birthmark?
If your childhood birthmark doesn’t go away and you want to get rid of it, you can do so with surgery or laser treatment. CO2 laser resurfacing and intense pulsed light (IPL), which is not a laser but a light therapy treatment that can help fade or eliminate dark spots on your skin, are two options that Los Gatos Dermatology offers. A CO2 laser is a more powerful treatment that produces more dramatic results but also necessitates more downtime. We heat the underlying layer and remove the skin’s thin outer layer during this laser treatment.
The regrowth of new skin that is smooth and free of birthmarks is stimulated by this procedure. We use IPL, a non-surgical treatment, to treat a number of skin problems, including unsightly dark spots like moles. This treatment, also known as photorejuvenation, reduces dark pigmentation and improves your skin’s texture and appearance. Call Los Gatos Dermatology in Los Gatos, California, if you have a birthmark on your body that you have wanted to get rid of for some time. We can tell you which treatment is best for your birthmark.