Birth Marks on Babies

My own son was born with a large black spot on his right leg. My sister’s daughter was born with what’s known as a stork bite in the centre of her face. Many babies are born with birth marks. Many of these are temporary and a large number of them disappear within the first five years of life. Marks like my son’s will never go away. Thankfully, a black spot on his leg pales into insignificance when it comes to an unsightly mark on a girl’s face.

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Spider marks

These are tiny, red (sometimes raised) marks. They’re called spider marks because the small blood vessels under the skin branch out from them into a cobweb pattern. These are very common and will usually go away before your baby is two.

Moles

Out of all the others, moles are the most common marks with which babies are born. Cells sometimes form in various ways that allow pigmentation to come together incorrectly. Of course this is nothing to worry about, as everyone on earth has moles. Be sure to ask your health visitor if you’re at all worried. Large moles or unsightly freckles can easily be removed by plastic surgery if your child chooses to do so when they get older.

Strawberry marks

Strawberry marks are bright and red. They can plump and feel a bit soft to the touch. They’re caused by malformed blood vessels, but do not pose any health threats to your baby. They disappear by the child’s fifth birthday.

Stork bites

When the small blood vessels enlarge, they can cause these red (or dark pink) marks on babies’ foreheads or eyelids. They are extremely common and will disappear within four of five years. Seldom, they can hang around for longer. My niece is 12 and still has hers, even though it’s faded considerably.

Blue spots

Asian and dark skinned babies like those of black parents may have these. Sometimes they appear as one larger spot or as several smaller ones. They can be found on babies’ backs or sides, and are generally in places where they’re hidden by clothes. Blue spots fade away naturally in a few years.