Question about birthmarks

lesliesmom wrote: DD (11 mts today!) has a raised hemangioma (a raised red mark) on her shoulder blade. This thing is about 1 in x 1 1/2 in (it has grown with her) and by raised, I mean, it is about 1/4 inch high and really hot. Have any of your children (or yourselves) had one of these. Did it have to be surgically removed? We finally have found a pediatric dermatologist and are getting it looked at on Friday but I was just hoping another parent out there had some experience and/or knowledge of these things. My doctor does not seem to know much about them other than "maybe it will go away".

kit_kats_mom replied: Katherine has one on her neck. It's small and flat, maybe a half inch long and 1/4 inch high. It wasn't there when she was born but it appeared during her first month. I first noticed it at a peds appointment and thought she'd scratched herself because it was just a faint red line. The ped knew what it was and said it would get worse then fade. It did get brighter (we call it her special spot) and a bit larger but it never raised. It's now fading and just barely noticable. I expect it will be gone by the time she's 6.

I did a lot of reading online about them when I first found it and the dermatologist should be able to tell you more about her specific "special spot". Basically they are a cluster of cappilaraires (usually) and I'm thinking that laser treatments would shrink it if it was causing problems.

BAC'sMom replied: My oldest son (10 ½ ) was born with a birthmark on his forehead; brows and both eyelids the technical term for his type birthmark is called Macular stains, also nicknamed angel kisses. We too were told his birthmark would fade by the time he turned two however it has not and has actually gotten darker. At this time we have choose to leave his birthmark alone, as he is not bothered by it nor does it cause him any pain. If he decides to have it removed then we will let him make that decision later in life.

Good luck to you

mom21kid2dogs replied: My best friend's daughter had a raised hemanigioma right next to her eye. It was pretty prominent but went away by the time she was 4.5. The plastic surgeon they consulted at a major children's hospital said most will resolve without surgery. He wouldn't consider removing hers until at least age 6. The area is whiter than her other skin now, but is otherwise unoticable. She's 7.5 now.

mummy2girls replied: Jenna has a birthmark on her cheek. the size of a quarter. It was really big at birth but has gotten smaller and lighter. Its flat and my ped called it an agenl kiss:)

ZandersMama replied: Zavier has some of the spots you are talking about. The largest is on his stomach. The doctor has said it will go away on its own and unless it is in a place that will disrupt the childs life, (i.e. an eyelid or something) they will leave it be and they will go away on their own,.

Nina J replied: I had one on my butt when I was a kid, but it went away. I also know a woman whose daughter had on on her forehead, but it went away aswell.

MoonMama replied: Brae has a birthmark on his left arm and drives me crazy, it looks like a bruise and it makes me sad.

momofone replied: I had one at birth and it fades and gets smaller over the years I am now 36 and you can barely see it

lesliesmom replied: The doctor basically affirmed everything said here. He said that at this point it should be as large as it will get and should start fading/reducing in size. May take 5-10 years but it should clear up for the most part (may be some residual marking i.e. discoloration, "veiny" looking) but not to worry. I had just heard so many conflicting things as to what to do about it I just had to get some peace of mind.

Interestingly though, he found another type of mark on her lower back (just above her "crack") - I had noticed it about a month prior and he looked at it. He said it was a mastocytoma... some kind of build up histamine. When it gets irritated (as he demonstrated) it basically reacts as a bug bite would. That, he said, will clear up in about 10 years...

mom21kid2dogs replied: Thanks for the update. I was wondering how her appt went. Glad they put your mind at ease.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I had something at birth on my neck, my mom called it a "strawberry", might be the same thing you're talking about... but in any case, it went away.