Birthmarks in Chambersburg, PA

It is important to have birthmarks checked to help you decide if or how the mark should be treated. A member of our team will tell you about the type of birthmark and if any abnormalities are present. She can help determine if it's a sign of another condition and provide you with treatment options. The most common birthmarks include:

• Café-au-lait spot (macule): A dark, flat mark that often develops on the butt or hips. The mark typically does not fade on its own.
• Deep hemangioma (cavernous infantile hemangioma): A warm, firm lump under the skin. It can expand fast in the first year, creating bleeding or pain, which needs to be treated immediately. Many deep hemangiomas fade naturally in 5 – 10 years; however, they can leave a scar or mark behind.
• Mole (congenital melanocytic nevus): A raised, brown spot that can develop anywhere on the face and body. Generally, moles do not disappear on their own.
• Mongolian spot (dermal melanocytosis): More common in babies of Asian descent, this birthmark looks like a bruise. Often on the buttocks or low back, the spot usually fades naturally in several years.
• Nevus sebaceous (organoid hamartoma): A hairless, raised patch, typically on the face or scalp. This birthmark can change but doesn't fade naturally.
• Port-wine stain (nevus flammeus): A purple, pink, or red patch, generally found on the face, though it can develop anywhere on the skin. Without treatment, it will remain and may become darker or larger.
• Salmon patch (nevus simplex): Sometimes called a stork's bite or an angel's kiss, these flat spots may be red or pink. Usually present on the neck or face, a salmon patch can fade or disappear naturally in a few years.
• Infantile hemangioma: A rubbery or firm bright-red skin patch that generally forms on the neck or head. It might grow for 4 – 6 months and then fade, shrink, or soften. These often disappear by themselves in 1 – 10 years.