Many birthmarks do not cause any problems at all for those who have them; they are not generally indicative of underlying health problems and can be small and easy to conceal. There are two general types of birthmark: vascular and pigmented.
Vascular birthmarks are those that appear when there is a malformation of blood vessels beneath the skin. They include port wine stains and strawberry marks. Some may fade away in early childhood but others, such as port wine stains, can be permanent and can become more problematic as the years go by. They can become raised and lumpy and darken in colour.
Pigmented birthmarks include café-au-lait marks and occur when the skin produces too much melanin, creating darker patches of skin. They, too, are usually permanent and may darken over time, especially if exposed to sunlight.
Birthmarks can appear anywhere on the body, although the face is a common place for them to develop. If a birthmark is noticeable, it can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-confidence at a time when their personality is developing.
If a birthmark is having a negative effect on a person’s life and development, then birthmark removal should be seriously considered. With modern technological developments, birthmarks no longer need to be a life-long feature.
