What are Birthmark?

Birthmarks are a common type of discoloration that appear on your skin at birth or during the first few weeks of life. They’re usually noncancerous.

They can occur anywhere on your face or body. Birthmarks vary in color, size, appearance, and shape. Some are permanent and may get larger over time. Others fade away completely. Most birthmarks are harmless, but some indicate an underlying medical condition. In some instances, birthmarks may be removed for cosmetic reasons.

What causes a Birthmark?

You may have heard tales connecting birthmarks to unmet food cravings, but that’s a myth. Birthmarks are not caused by anything that a pregnant woman does or doesn’t do during her pregnancy. The underlying reason why birthmarks form is unknown. skin such as moles may occur later on in life but aren’t considered birthmarks.

Birthmark Types

Vascular birthmarks occur if blood vessels in a particular area of your skin don’t form the way they should. For example, there may be too many blood vessels clustered in one area or the blood vessels may be wider than they should be.
Pigmented birthmarks occur when there’s an overabundance of pigment cells in one area. Pigment cells are what give your skin its natural color