Birthmarks get their name for one simple reason: They are marks that are present on the skin of a lot of newborn babies. A baby can develop birthmarks either before he or she is born or soon after birth, they can be brown, tan, blue, pink or red.

The most common are 'coffee-cream spots' -- permanent dark or light brown flat patches which occasionally appear in clusters. About 10% of all babies have some kind of vascular birthmark which consists of blood vessels bunched together under the skin. Hemangiomas and port wine stains are much less common but much more severe vascular birthmarks.
One of the most common birthmarks is found on the back of the neck (where they are called 'stork bites') or between the eyebrows (where they are known as 'angel's kisses') These types of birthmarks are also known as 'salmon patches'. Usually these birthmarks disappear within the first few weeks or months of life. Other kinds of birthmarks are more permanent.

Most birthmarks are harmless. Nevertheless you should have your doctor check any birthmarks or moles you are worried about, especially large moles known as pigmented naevi, since these are more likely to become cancerous than ordinary moles.

Conventional cosmetic surgery can be performed on large moles and birth marks but such removal carries the same risks associated with any surgical procedure. The can include bleeding, infection and scarring. Cryosurgery is another treatment that can be used on birthmarks. An in-office procedure, the mechanism of destruction is necrosis, which results from the freezing and thawing of the pigmented skin cells that make up the birthmark. 

Fotona's Nd:YAG family of lasers can be used to successfully treat non-vascular birthmarks such a coffee-cream discolorations. The laser light is absorbed by the melanin pigment in the birthmark and becomes scattered within the skin's tissues. The rest is done by the body's own immune system as the skin's cleansing cells, called "macro-phages," digest the excess pigment and clear it from the area.

Most coffee-cream birthmarks can be eliminated completely by laser treatment. The procedure is performed in a surgical suite or office, is quick, usually requires no anesthesia and has a rapid healing time.

The MedLite laser is one of the most technologically advanced lasers for removing pigmented lesions. The laser removes these pigments with the energy of light. The specialized light produced by the MedLite laser is absorbed by the pigmented lesion. The unwanted pigment is then destroyed, thus removing or lightening the lesion.

The MedLite is most commonly used for removing brown age spots, “liver spots”, freckles and other brown birthmarks. The laser light of the MedLite was specifically designed to effectively target the dark concentrations of melanin. After the abnormal amounts of melanin are removed, and treatment continues on normal skin, some whitening could occur. However, your body’s natural regenerative system would replace the normal melanin over a period of time, returning the skin to its natural color.

The MedLite laser emits light in very short pulses. The impact of the energy from the power pulse of light is similar to the snap of a thin rubber band. After the treatment, the area will feel similar to a light sunburn. Typically any discomfort will disappear within a day or so. After the redness clears, the skin returns to its natural color and texture.

Most common pigmented lesions are removed within one to two treatments though some deeper lesions will require more treatments. Common pigmented lesions do not return. Some birthmarks may return after a period of several months to a year. However, the procedure can be repeated.

 

Call Coastal Skin Center now to set up an appointment 207.667.2422 or 888.379.5664