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Birthmarks and Common Skin Conditions
Birthmarks are fairly common and can occur anywhere on the body, in
the form of a pigmented blemish. The most common of the birthmarks
are known as 'naevi', and are the cause of an abnormal increase in
the number of pigmented cells in the skin.
Strawberry naevus: Caused by blood vessels that have broken
away from the main blood network, and have their own independent
blood supply. These marks range in colour from a bright red to a
deep purple and have a raised surface which has the texture of a
strawberry. In this case there is no need for treatment, provided
the naevus isn't the cause of other problems. If the naevus does
interfere with the function of a vital organ, such as the eye, lazer
therapy or the use of steroid drugs will have to be considered.
Cavernous haemangioma: This birthmark is very similar to
the strawberry naevus, but far less common - only 2 out of every 100
babies are born with one. This deep seated blood-filled lumpy mass
grows rapidly in the first six months of the baby's life, developing
slower in the following six. By the time your baby is between twelve
and eighteen months, it begins to shrink and should have fully
disappeared by the time the child reaches childhood. This form of
birthmark doesn't necessarily need treatment, unless there is
grotesque disfigurement, or the haemangioma interferes with vision
or feeding. In which case a surgical excision, the use of steroid
drugs or laser therapy will be necessary.
Portwine stain / nevus flammeus: These purplish red
birthmarks can occur anywhere on the infants body, and are composed
of dilated mature capillaries. At birth they are flat pink lesions,
and although there may be a slight change in colour, they do not
fade completely and can be considered permanent. No treatment is
necessary, but if the mark is situated in a strategic place, it may,
for the confidence of the child be wise to consider using cover-up
cosmetic creams and at a later stage, lazer therapy.
Café au lait spots: These light to dark brown flat patches
can be found anywhere on the body, and are actually considered to be
quite common. Unfortunately they are permanent and will not fade. No
treatment is needed.
Giant congenital naevus: The giant congenital naevus is
present at birth, but as the name might suggest, isn't genetically
inherited. It ranges in size and colour and may either be raised or
flat with a slight rough texture to it. Most giant congenital naevi
are found on the chest, back and limbs, but may also be situated on
the face. In this instance, medical attention is essential with
surgical removal often becoming a necessity, as some have been found
to be pre-cancerous during childhood. These marks can at times be
quite disfiguring, causing the child emotional upheavals when
exposed to the public eye, and in such cases skin grafting may be a
good option.
Mongolian spots: These blue spots are more common amongst
darker skinned people, and are commonly found on the back and
buttocks, but can also occur on the shoulders, legs, hands and feet.
No treatment is necessary and the spots will usually fade during the
first year of the baby's life. In rare cases though these spots can
persist into adulthood.
Miliaria: Commonly known as 'prickly heat', this itchy rash
is mostly found amongst children living in warmer climates. A
blistered rash forms when sweat gets trapped in the pores of the
sweat glands, and move into surrounding tissue. Many children may
show signs of this rash in hot humid weather, or it may even be the
sign of the onset of a fever. Newborn babies are often found to have
miliaria in the form of tiny white bumps on their cheeks and noses,
but as they adjust to the climate these will soon disappear.
Miliaria will respond well to treatment, and this can be as simple
as removing excessive clothing and applying cool water to the skin.
Candidiasis / Thrush: This bright red infection is caused by
a yeast-like fungus which thrives in warm, moist surroundings, and
may be prevalent in the nappy region. The area will be inflamed with
small blisters that form around the affected site. Plastic
waterproof pants will actually aggravate the condition, by keeping
the moisture inside, so it is a good idea to banish the use of these
until the infection has cleared. Thrush may also appear in your
baby's mouth (oral thrush) in the form of white patches that can be
closely resembled to cottage cheese or milk curds. If the patches
are wiped away, a raw area will be exposed which may bleed. Though
this infection isn't potentially dangerous, it can affect your
baby's feeding, so medical advice should be sought, and preventative
measures should be taken to prevent re-infection. All feeding
equipment should be thoroughly sterilised and a barrier cream used
daily in the nappy area.
Papular urticaria: Papular urticaria appears in groups of
blister-like bumps usually on the lower legs. This at times can be
confused with chickenpox or scabies, as it is generally very itchy,
and the child should be restrained from scratching as this could
cause a secondary infection. This skin problem is believed to be
caused by an allergy to insect bites, but in some cases it may also
be a reaction to certain artificial preservatives. Insect repellents
should be used to prevent your child from being bitten, or if it has
been noted as an allergic reaction, the offending substance should
be removed from her diet. Control the itchiness with antihistamines
or calamine lotion.
Molluscum contagiosum: This viral infection which is easily
spread via contact with an infected person, may occur anywhere on
the body, but more prominently on the face and neck, in the form of
smooth, raised white pimples. They are hard to the touch and can
cause the sufferer extreme irritation if they flare up around the
eye and lip areas. Treatment is not always necessary as they do seem
to disappear on their own, although it is essential for them to be
viewed by a medical practitioner. If he feels it necessary to remove
them, he will proceed by removing the head of each pimple and apply
iodine or liquid nitrogen to prevent further growth.
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