Where Do Birthmarks Come From?
Birthmarks are called stork bites or angel kisses. Some are pink, red, brown, bluish, or gray. Almost everyone has, or had, some type of birthmark, so they are familiar and common.
There are many different types of birthmarks and the answer to where do birthmarks come from depends on the type. Generally, birthmarks are either pigmented or vascular. The pigmented ones are usually, gray, black, bluish, or brown, and these marks are the product of abnormal growth in pigment cells. The vascular marks, usually pink, red, or slightly bluish, originate from an accumulation of blood vessels below the skin’s surface.
Common Birthmarks
It is important to note that most birthmarks are completely harmless. Pinkish or purplish marks near the skin are among the most common birthmarks. These marks are often nicknamed “stork bites” or “angel kisses”, and they are simply a collection of capillaries that lie just under the skin’s surface.
Stork Bite
A stork bite birth mark is a reddish mark located on the back of the neck, as if the mark remains from the stork’s delivery of the baby. Stork bites generally last through adulthood.
Angel Kiss
An angel kiss birth mark is found on the face; these types of birthmarks usually fade before a child turns two years old. Many babies- nearly 70 percent- have one or more of these marks. If you spend time with a baby who has this time of birthmark, you may see that the birthmark becomes more noticeable when the baby cries.
Cafe Au Lait Spot
Another type of birthmark is known as a café au lait spot. These are light brown patches on the surface of the skin, and can also be common. Up to 50 percent of babies are born with a café au lait spot, though this type of birthmark also tends to fade as the child ages. However, people with café au lait spots may notice that the spots become more pronounced when they tan or get a sunburn.
Moles
Moles are another type of birthmark, and they are simply a small collection of cells that manufacture pigment, the material that produces color in body tissues. Moles vary in size from tiny to large; they may be flat or rounded; they range in color from brown to black.
Sometimes, these birthmarks do not appear until the bearer is a several years old. When birthmarks are present at birth, they are known as congenital nevi (nevi is the medical term for birthmark), and only about one percent of babies are born with them. Most moles develop as individuals age.
Mongolian Spots
Mongolian spots are grayish or bluish pigmented areas on the skin’s surface, and these birth marks are often found on babies with dark skin. A majority of Asian, Native American, East African, and Hispanic babies are born with Mongolian spots, and most of those spots fade before the children are of age to attend school.
Port Wine Stain
The port-wine stain is another type of birthmark, which range in color from light pink to deep purple. While they can appear anywhere on the body, port-wine stains are most commonly found on the head or the face. Some fade, but most port wine stains remain and grow. Hemangioma is a broad term to describe growths of blood vessels that form these relatively uncommon birthmarks.
Unlike stork bites or angel kisses, hemangiomas are on the surface of the skin. They appear most often on the neck or head and they can grow rather rapidly. Often, hemangiomas stop growing on their own, and, over the course of several years, the skin looks as though nothing ever happened to it.
Presence of Birthmarks
Birthmarks, for some, are a passing phase, and for others, the marks are here to stay. If you have questions about your birthmark, consult your physician. He or she can let you know whether a birthmark requires medical attention or whether it is simply a harmless mark that helps make you unique.