Birthmarks appear on our skin in the form of colored marks or blemishes at birth or shortly afterward. These blemishes and marks can be of different colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. The most common colors and types of birthmarks include:
- Brown
- Tan
- Black
- Blue
- Blue-Grey
- Pink
- White
- Red
- Purple
Apart from different colors, birthmarks have different locations and textures. They can be found over or under the skin surface. Moreover, some birthmarks can also be raised above the skin surface. They can grow, shrink, or disappear with time, but they are usually harmless and don’t pose any serious threat. Although they are naturally harmless, some people don’t like having blemishes or marks on their skin. So, they go for laser birthmarks treatment in Dubai to get rid of them.
Types of Birthmarks
For a birthmark treatment, knowing the type of birthmark is crucial. It lets the practitioner choose the correct treatment from the available laser treatments.
Some common types of birthmarks are mentioned below:
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Salmon Patches
Salmon patches are commonly known as stork bites or angel kisses. It is the most common type of birthmark.
In Salmon Patches, thin, flat, red or light pink patches appear on the skin. The most common positions where these patches appear include:
- Back of the neck (stork bites)
- Upper eyelids, upper lip, between eyebrows (angel kisses)
Usually, the Salmon Patches appearing on the baby’s eyelids fade with time without any treatment. However, Salmon Patches occurring on the nape of the baby’s neck don’t fade on their own. For these patches, laser birthmarks treatment may be required.
These patches are not harmful and become noticeable only when the baby cries or is hot or cold.
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Congenital Moles
The second common type of birthmark is congenital moles. They are brown and appear at the time of the baby’s birth.
Congenital moles have different sizes and shapes, and they can be found anywhere on the body. They can be found individually or in the form of groups.
If congenital moles are small in size, they don’t pose a severe threat to the patient’s health. However, if the moles are large, they can become cancerous at some point in life. So, it is recommended to get a birthmark treatment for such moles.
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Café-Au-Lait Spots
Café-au-lait spots are another common type of birthmark. Although these birthmarks are present at the time of birth, they develop during childhood.
These spots are light brown or chocolate brown. Typically, their shape is oval, and they are found on the torso, buttocks, and legs.
While these types of birthmarks don’t fade away, they don’t usually require treatment. However, if they keep increasing and a patient has 6 or more spots on the body, it may be neurofibromatosis. So, at that point, they may need to be treated.
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Mongolian Spots
In some children, smooth-textured, blue or blue-grey colored birthmarks appear across their lower back and buttocks. These are known as Mongolian spots and are common among Asian, South European, Hispanic, or African children.
These types of birthmarks are not harmful and don’t need any laser treatments in Dubai. They usually vanish by the age of 3 or 4 years.
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Port-Wine Stains
Lastly, port-wine stains also appear on a baby’s skin at the time of birth. These stains are pinkish-red at the time of their birth. Over time, these stains keep darkening, and within a few years, they turn reddish-purple.
These stains appear due to abnormally developed blood vessels. Generally, port-wine stains appear on the face, but they can be found anywhere on the body. Moreover, their sizes can also be small or large.
Port-wine scars don’t fade over time; instead, they keep darkening. They become more noticeable during pregnancy or puberty due to hormonal fluctuations in all types of birthmarks. Laser birthmarks treatment may be the only solution to get rid of these stains.
