Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Dermatology Center Coronavirus Update
Menu
  • Home
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Staff
  • Our Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Portal
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education
    • Dermatology Education Library
      • What is a Dermatologist?
      • Anatomy of the Skin
      • Skin Care Topics
      • Skin Conditions
      • Skin Growths
      • Skin Infections

812-944-7500

  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Skin Conditions >
  • Birthmarks/Pigmented Skin

Birthmarks/Pigmented Skin

  • Created in Skin Conditions

Birthmarks are abnormal skin colorations in spots that are either present at birth or appear shortly thereafter. They can be flat or slightly raised from the skin. They can be any number of colors, including red, brown, black, tan, pink, white or purple. Birthmarks are generally harmless. There are two major categories of birthmarks: pigmented birthmarks and red birthmarks.

Pigmented Birthmarks can grow anywhere on the skin and at any time. They are usually black, brown or skin-colored and appear singly or in groups. They can be moles (congenital nevi) that are present at birth, Mongolian spots, which look like bluish bruises and appear more frequently on people with dark skin, or café-au-lait spots that are flat, light brown or tan and roughly form an oval shape.

Red Birthmarks (also known as macular stains) develop before or shortly after birth and are related to the vascular (blood vessel) system. There are a number of different types:

  • Angel kisses, which usually appear on the forehead and eyelids.
  • Stork bites, which appear on the back of the neck, between the eyebrows on the forehead, or on eyelids of newborns. They may fade away as the child grows, but often persist into adulthood.
  • Port-wine stains, which are flat deep-red or purple birthmarks made up of dilated blood capillaries (small blood vessels). They often appear on the face and are permanent.
  • Strawberry hemangiomas, composed of small, closely packed blood vessels that grow rapidly and can appear anywhere on the body. They usually disappear by age nine.
  • Cavernous hemangiomas are similar to strawberry hemangiomas but go more deeply into the layers of the skin. These can often be characterized by a bluish-purple color. They also tend to disappear naturally around school age.
  • Dermatology Education Library
    • What is a Dermatologist?
    • Anatomy of the Skin
    • Skin Care Topics
    • Skin Conditions
    • Skin Growths
    • Skin Infections

Dermatology Center

Call Us Today

812-944-7500

Location
Online Payment Link
  • Copyright © 2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map