As parents, you want nothing more than the best for your baby. Because they are so delicate and vulnerable, it can be overwhelming to think about what you should protect them from. As if you don’t have enough on your plate, managing your baby’s skincare just another important factor that can play a large role in the healthy development of your little one.

Immediately following the birth of your baby or in the few weeks following, your child will have all of the birthmarks they will have for the rest of their life. Some are the typical marks that make us unique, while others demand a little more attention and observation. If your baby has a birthmark that is red, pink, or bluish, or is raised up on the skin, these marks should be brought to your dermatologist or pediatrician`s attention and monitored. These markings are known as vascular birthmarks. The blood vessels are very close to the skin in these instances and can cause health issues.

The three types of vascular birthmarks are: salmon patches, hemangiomas, and port-wine. While these are usually harmless, it is always to the advantage of your little one`s health to take the time to double check and try new treatments that have become available in the past few years.

Salmon patches are almost always worry-free. Also known as "angel kisses" and "stork bites" (pet names given due to the fact that salmon patches are often found on newborn babies) these may fade with time or remain throughout adulthood. They rarely require treatment.

Hemangioma is a type of birthmark that usually appears after a few weeks after birth. These marks can appear randomly on any part of the body, and usually start off as flat red markings, which continue to grow until the child`s first birthday. After this, the birthmark begins to fade. By the time Kindergarten rolls around, half of hemangioma children will see the markings fade completely, with 90% of kids saying goodbye to this birthmark by age nine.

While hemangiomas are usually harmless, it is important that these are still monitored. If this vascular birthmark begins to bleed or change shape/color significantly, take your child to a doctor who specializes in pediatric skin conditions as soon as possible.

Port-wine stains, also known as capillary malformations, are formed due to an abnormal appearance of blood vessels in the skin. Much like hemangiomas, they grow with the child, however they usually do not fade. Because they tend to be quite large and can cause the child distress cosmetically and emotionally, many port-wine stains are treated while the child is still young. Laser treatment is a popular method for fading these stains as well as the other types of birthmarks previously mentioned. Most will improve in appearance after the first treatment, however some may require multiple visits.

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