You may notice your baby born with a small spot or some form of discoloration on her skin. While most forms of birthmarks remain permanent, some fade as your child grows. In instances where a birthmark begins to grow rapidly, your pediatrician may need to examine your baby for an underlying medical condition.
Stork Bites
Stork bites create faint red marks on your newborn. Stork bites are the most common form of birthmarks in babies. You can find them on the face or on the back of the neck. The birthmarks become more noticeable when your baby cries. Stork bites on the face usually fade by the time they're 2. Stork bites on the neck sometimes remain permanent.
Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas appear as strawberry markings when on the surface of your newborn's skin. Hemangiomas that form deep within your newborn's skin look blue. Sometimes a hemangioma can appear slightly raised. A hemangioma can grow in size, but usually shrinks and disappears by the time your child turns 9. Hemangiomas appear anywhere on your child. Very rarely will you need to remove a hemangioma, unless it disrupts your child's functions.
Mongolian Spots
Mongolian spots appear as blue-gray or look like bruises on your newborn's buttocks, lower back and sometimes the legs and arms. Most Mongolian birthmarks fade by the time your child reaches school age. Mongolian birthmarks appear on darker skin, such as those of Asian descent, American Indians, Hispanics and African Americans.
Congenital Nevi
Congenital nevi are often referred to as moles. Congenital nevi birthmarks appear as anything from small markings to markings that can cover an entire extremity. Your physician should monitor your newborn when born with a congential nevi. Large congenital nevi can become skin cancer. Smaller nevi might not become cancerous, but your physician should still watch your child for any changes in size.
Port-Wine Stains
A port-wine birthmark looks like spilled wine. The birthmark appears pink at birth, but will become reddish or purplish as your child grows. Port-wine stains are permanent birthmarks. The birthmarks become thickened in adulthood and feel like pebbles in texture. Port-wine birthmarks appear anywhere on the body, but are usually common on the face.
Cafe-au-Lait
Cafe-au-lait spots look like coffee colored blotches. Cafe-au-lait spots appear anywhere on the body. One or two cafe-au-lait spots are no cause for concern. If your child has a few or larger cafe-au-laits spots, seek evaluation from a dermatologist to ensure that your child isn't suffering from neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis causes tumor growth, which leads to skin and bone abnormalities.
