Naturally Healthy Lifestyles

Birthmarks and other 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, laser 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.

Port wine 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, laser 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.