Birthmark Removal

Advances in the field of cosmetic surgery mean that birthmarks can now be treated in new ways that remove them without causing further damage or disfigurement. One of the keys to successfully removing birthmarks is to implement treatment as early as possible.

In young children birthmarks are generally lighter and fewer treatments are usually required. Many birthmarks darken and become thicker as children age. Treating children early is also preferable as this reduces or eliminates and teasing the child may receive at school.

Port Wine Stains or Red Birthmarks

One in every 300 babies will be born with a port wine or red birthmark. The condition is caused by abnormally dilated blood vessels in the dermal layer of the skin and looks as the name suggests, like a wine stain on the skin.

At birth these are characteristically flat and pink but they gradually darken and thicken becoming more obvious as a patient grows older. In some cases nodules develop which may bleed.

The most common treatment for port red wine stains is pulsed dye lasers. The laser light effectively picks out the areas of discolouration and destroys the abnormal cells using an intense heat. Treatment is slightly uncomfortable but is easily tolerated. Treatment can begin at any age after birth but as a general anaesthetic is required treatment is usually delayed until the child is at least 9 months old. About 25% of birthmarks can be completely removed by laser treatment and the vast majority can be sufficiently reduced so that they can be easily covered with make-up.

Complications are unusual and may include post treatment bruising, loss of pigment in the skin and very rarely (less than 1%) scarring.

Strawberry Birthmarks

The medical name is haemangiomas. Strawberry birthmarks generally develop on the head and neck, usually within two to three weeks of birth. Strawberry marks, or haemangiomas, affect about one in 20 babies, and interestingly are more common in girls than boys. In eighty percent of cases, a strawberry birthmark will disappear without the need for any treatment.

Vascular Malformations

These blood-filled birthmarks may be red, blue and raised or flat.  Although these birthmarks are there at birth they may not become visible for a few weeks. They usually grow in proportion to the child’s growth.

Brown Birthmarks

Similar to large moles, brown birthmarks are caused by abnormal collections of pigment cells and come in many shapes and sizes. They could be quite small, or large enough to cover a whole limb. They range in colour from light brown to coffee colour and may be hairless or hairy.