Port-Wine Stain vs a Strawberry Birthmark

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Port-Wine Stain vs a Strawberry Birthmark
March, 2007
By Cheryl Carpenter
Associated Content

A strawberry birthmark is a growth of blood vessels in the skin. A port-wine stain is a form of birthmark which affects about .5 percent of all newborns. A port-wine stain birthmark is a result of malformations in the blood vessels which connect veins to the arteries. This results in various shapes of colored patches which are generally located on the neck, face or scalp. A port-wine stain can be light pink, red, or a darker reddish violet color. These stains tend to get darker in color with age. Many times a newborn has a pink patch on their eyelids but this is not a true port-wine stain and will disappear over a period of time.
A person with a port-wine stain may experience their birthmark changing over a period of time. These birthmarks can vary in size and can start out being smooth and then change into a thicker and textured stain. A port-wine stain can be difficult to cover up with makeup as they become bumpy. In addition, these stains can bleed easily when they are scratched.

There is a treatment for port-wine stains which involves laser. The success of the laser technique depends on the location of the birthmark as well as the age. The laser treatment can lighten most port-wine stains. More than one treatment is generally required. These treatments are repeated at around 8-12 weeks after the initial treatment. The side affects of these laser treatments is swelling and pain as one would feel if they had sunburn. For those who have thicker port-wine stains, some doctors have begun using CO2 laser treatments for resurfacing the area.

A Strawberry mark is a soft raised mark with a bright red surface which at time appears to be somewhat like the appearance of a strawberry. These marks are not usually present at birth but they will make there appearance soon afterward. These birthmarks can appear anywhere on the body. A strawberry birthmark is a growth of blood vessels in the skin. Even though this is an extended growth, they are not cancerous. Strawberry birthmarks are seen often in premature babies and in Caucasians the most. As with the wine-port birthmarks, strawberry birthmarks may bleed and develop infections as well. When a baby has a strawberry birthmark, they usually start our small in size and continue to grow until the child reaches 3-9 months of age.

Treatment is not usually necessary and most strawberry birthmarks will shrink over a period of time. This is not a birthmark which carries over into adulthood. Sometimes the area of skin which the strawberry birthmark was present will be saggy after it shrinks. If this happens plastic surgery can correct the problem.