Birthmark is a skin blemish that is present at birth or develops shortly thereafter. There are two main types: moles and hemangiomas << hih `man` jee OH mahz >> . This article discusses hemangiomas. For information about moles, see Mole [dermatology] .
A hemangioma is a benign (harmless) tumor that consists of blood vessels beneath the skin. Physicians are not sure what causes hemangiomas. However, most doctors agree that they are neither hereditary nor caused by an accident during pregnancy. The most common kinds of hemangiomas are cavernous hemangiomas, port-wine stains, and strawberry marks.
A cavernous hemangioma is a soft, bluish lump composed of large blood vessels. It may grow or shrink, but most cavernous hemangiomas are permanent. Surgery is the only method of removing such birthmarks.
Port-wine stains are flat, permanent hemangiomas that occur most frequently on the face. They may be pink, red, or purple. These blemishes can usually be covered with cosmetics. In certain cases, doctors use the concentrated, high-energy light beams from a laser to fade port-wine stains. Such treatment is effective, but it may take many repetitions to complete.
Strawberry marks are bright red, soft, and raised. Treatment is rarely necessary because almost all of them disappear eventually.
