I?m not a newbie when it comes to skin concerns?I?m fair-skinned with veritable constellations of freckles on my body and I?ve already had several moles and freckles removed. So when each of my two daughters were born with birthmarks, I was worried.
My first daughter arrived with red patches on her forehead and at the nape of her neck. I fretted that they would never fade or might mean she had an underlying medical condition. When my second daughter was born with a distinctive mole on her upper thigh, I worried again. In both situations, our pediatrician talked me through my fears and provided my daughters with easy treatments. He told me my eldest daughter?s birthmark is called a salmon patch (a type of pink birthmark that?s super common) and would probably fade over time?and it did. For my youngest, I had to take a photo of her mole for future reference and have it evaluated by a pediatric dermatologist. As a new parent?or even second- or third-time one?it?s so hard to know if you should worry about your baby?s birthmarks. Read on for a comprehensive guide to all the different types of birthmarks and everything you need to know about them, including possible treatments.
What are baby birthmarks"
?Birthmarks may appear as any discolored or raised skin that we see at the time of birth or even a few weeks after,? explains Sheilagh Maguiness, an assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and vice-president, education and career d...