Exploring the significance of birthmarks

Lesions seen on neonatal skin may be transient and of no importance; however, some lesions are permanent and a small proportion of these may have serious implications. They may be due to structures normally present in the skin but abnormal in quantity or quality. The majority of vascular birthmarks are either infantile haemangiomas (strawberry naevi) or vascular malformations. Ninety per cent of infantile haemangiomas are apparent by four weeks of age, and the vast majority undergo spontaneous regression during childhood. Vascular malformations, however, are always present at birth and persist throughout life.