Birthmarks are benign discolorations that can appear on newborns or later in life. They vary in size, shape, location, and color and are associated with interesting myths and legends. Vascular birthmarks are caused by malformations of veins, while Mongolian spots are common in people of African and Asian descent. Some people choose to remove them, while others keep or enhance them. Historically, birthmarks were linked to a mother’s thoughts, desires, and experiences during pregnancy and were sometimes associated with witchcraft.
A birthmark is a discoloration that appears on the skin of newborns or develops later in life. By nature, they are benign, although some people may find them unpleasant. They vary widely in size, shape, location, and color. Historically, a number of interesting myths and legends have been associated with birthmarks and unfortunately they have been linked to evil in some cultures.
These marks are sometimes referred to as nevi, referring to the Latin term used to describe benign lesions on the skin with clearly defined margins. About one in three babies is born with some form of birthmark, most commonly a simple spot or mole, and sometimes it doesn’t show up until later in life. No one is quite sure what causes them; they are simply an illustration of the remarkable diversity of the human race.
A specific family known as vascular birthmarks is caused by malformations of the veins, causing them to cluster very close to the skin. A notable form of this type is a port-wine stain, which takes the form of a large stain that becomes darker later in life. You may also see so-called “stork bites”, marks that appear as reddish speckled areas and usually disappear within a few years, or strawberry hemangiomas, raised areas of skin that vaguely resemble strawberries.
Mongolian spots are dark brown to purple discolorations found on many people of African and Asian descent. Other forms include café au lait stains and an assortment of other hallmarks with equally colorful names.
Some people choose to have their cravings removed, because they find them unsightly or distracting. They can be treated with lasers, surgery and other techniques, depending on the nature of the birthmark involved, and some faint scarring may be left behind. Others choose to keep or even enhance them, along with their beauty points.
Historically, birthmarks were seen as manifestations of a mother’s thoughts, desires, and experiences during pregnancy. For example, some cultures believed that babies would develop red, mottled ones if their mothers witnessed wildfires. Others thought they were a sign of witchcraft and the influence of the devil, and some women who had them found themselves persecuted as witches because of the marks on their bodies.
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