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Birthmarks - red
Strawberry mark; Vascular skin changes; Angioma cavernosum; Capillary hemangioma; Hemangioma simplex
Red birthmarks are skin markings created by blood vessels close to the skin surface. They develop before or shortly after birth.
Causes
There are 2 main categories of birthmarks:
- Red birthmarks are made up of blood vessels close to the skin surface. These are called vascular birthmarks.
-
Pigmented birthmarks
are areas in which the color of the birthmark is different from the color of the rest of the skin.
Pigmented birthmarks
A birthmark is a skin marking that is present at birth. Birthmarks include cafe-au-lait spots, moles, and Mongolian spots. Birthmarks can be red or...
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Hemangiomas are a common type of vascular birthmark. Their cause is unknown. Their color is caused by the growth of blood vessels at the site. Different types of hemangiomas include:
Hemangiomas
A hemangioma is an abnormal buildup of blood vessels in the skin or internal organs.
- Strawberry hemangiomas (strawberry mark, nevus vascularis, capillary hemangioma, hemangioma simplex) may develop several weeks after birth. They may appear anywhere on the body, but are most often found on the neck and face. These areas consist of small blood vessels that are very close together.
- Cavernous hemangiomas (angioma cavernosum, cavernoma) are similar to strawberry hemangiomas but they are deeper and may appear as a red-blue spongy area of tissue filled with blood.
-
Salmon patches
(stork bites) are very common. Up to half of all newborns have them. They are small, pink, flat spots made up of small blood vessels that can be seen through the skin. They are most common on the forehead, eyelids, upper lip, between the eyebrows, and on the back of the neck. Salmon patches may be more noticeable when an infant cries or during temperature changes.
Salmon patches
A stork bite is a common type of birthmark seen in a newborn. It is most often temporary. The medical term for a stork bite is nevus simplex. A sto...
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Port wine stains
are flat hemangiomas made of expanded tiny blood vessels (capillaries). Port wine stains on the face may be associated with
Sturge-Weber
syndrome. They are most often located on the face. Their size varies from very small to over half of the body's surface.
Port wine stains
A port-wine stain is a birthmark in which swollen blood vessels create a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark ArticleSturge-Weber
Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare disorder that is present at birth. A child with this condition will have a port-wine stain birthmark (usually on the...
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Symptoms
The main symptoms of birthmarks include:
- Marks on the skin that look like blood vessels
-
Skin rash or lesion
that is red
Skin rash or lesion
Rashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.
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Exams and Tests
A health care provider should examine all birthmarks. Diagnosis is based on how the birthmark looks.
Tests to confirm deeper birthmarks include:
-
Skin biopsy
Skin biopsy
A skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined. The skin is tested to look for skin conditions or diseases. A...
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CT
scan
CT
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
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MRI
of the area
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...
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Treatment
Many strawberry hemangiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, and salmon patches are temporary and do not need treatment.
Port wine stains may not need treatment unless they:
- Affect your appearance
- Cause emotional distress
- Are painful
- Change in size, shape, or color
Most permanent birthmarks are not treated before a child reaches school age or the birthmark is causing symptoms. Port wine stains on the face are an exception. They should be treated at a young age to prevent emotional and social problems. Laser surgery can be used to treat them.
Laser surgery
Laser surgery uses laser light to remove diseased tissues or treat bleeding blood vessels. Laser surgery may also be used to remove wrinkles, sunspo...
Concealing cosmetics may hide permanent birthmarks.
Oral or injected cortisone may reduce the size of a hemangioma that is growing quickly and affecting vision or vital organs.
Other treatments for red birthmarks include:
- Beta-blocker medicines
-
Freezing (
cryotherapy
)
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a method of superfreezing tissue in order to destroy it. This article discusses cryotherapy of the skin.
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- Surgical removal
Outlook (Prognosis)
Birthmarks rarely cause problems, other than changes in appearance. Many birthmarks go away on their own by the time a child reaches school age, but some are permanent. The following development patterns are typical for the different types of birthmarks:
- Strawberry hemangiomas usually grow quickly and stay the same size. Then they go away. Most strawberry hemangiomas are gone by the time a child is 9 years old. However, there may be a slight change in color or puckering of the skin where the birthmark was.
- Some cavernous hemangiomas go away on their own, usually as a child is about school age.
- Salmon patches often fade as the infant grows. Patches on the back of the neck may not fade. They usually are not visible as hair grows.
- Port wine stains are often permanent.
Possible Complications
The following complications can occur from birthmarks:
- Emotional distress because of appearance
- Discomfort or bleeding from vascular birthmarks (occasional)
- Interference with vision or bodily functions
- Scarring or complications after surgery to remove them
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Have your health care provider look at all birthmarks.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent birthmarks.
References
Habif TP. Vascular tumors and malformations. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 23.
Paller AS, Mancini AJ. Vascular disorders of infancy and childhood. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, eds. Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 12.
Patterson JW. Vascular tumors. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 38.
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Stork bite - illustration
A stork bite is a vascular lesion quite common in newborns consisting of one or more pale red patches of skin. Most often stork bites appear on the forehead, eyelids, tip of the nose, upper lip or back of the neck. They are usually gone within 18 months of birth.
Stork bite
illustration
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Hemangioma on the face (nose) - illustration
Hemangiomas are tumors made up of dilated blood vessels that usually appear shortly after birth, although they may be present at birth. Hemangiomas on the face can be disfiguring and may interfere with visual development or cause obstruction of the airway.
Hemangioma on the face (nose)
illustration
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Hemangioma on the chin - illustration
This child has a juvenile hemangioma (strawberry hemangioma) on the chin. These may begin as flat, red spots and later become larger and elevated. Juvenile hemangiomas often go away (involute) spontaneously.
Hemangioma on the chin
illustration
-
Stork bite - illustration
A stork bite is a vascular lesion quite common in newborns consisting of one or more pale red patches of skin. Most often stork bites appear on the forehead, eyelids, tip of the nose, upper lip or back of the neck. They are usually gone within 18 months of birth.
Stork bite
illustration
-
Hemangioma on the face (nose) - illustration
Hemangiomas are tumors made up of dilated blood vessels that usually appear shortly after birth, although they may be present at birth. Hemangiomas on the face can be disfiguring and may interfere with visual development or cause obstruction of the airway.
Hemangioma on the face (nose)
illustration
-
Hemangioma on the chin - illustration
This child has a juvenile hemangioma (strawberry hemangioma) on the chin. These may begin as flat, red spots and later become larger and elevated. Juvenile hemangiomas often go away (involute) spontaneously.
Hemangioma on the chin
illustration
Review Date: 10/24/2016
Reviewed By: David L. Swanson, MD, Vice Chair of Medical Dermatology, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Medical School, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
