What are congenital nevi?
Do you have a white spot on your leg? Your pregnant mom was craving milk. It was once said that so-called "birthmarks" and other skin signs present at birth were the result of something the baby's mother had eaten or done during pregnancy. These old legends have no basis in reality. In fact, there is nothing we can do to prevent the formation of congenital nevi, which are usually harmless, and often disappear spontaneously during growth. If, however, a congenital nevus causes discomfort, it is possible to have it removed.
To understand what are the possible treatment solutions, it is useful to distinguish the different types of congenital nevi.
Types of Congenital Nevi
Most congenital nevi fall into two categories: pigmented (usually one color in shades of brown) and vascular (red or purple).
Pigmented spots
They occur when an area of the skin has a more pronounced color or pigment, and include:
- Café au lait spots: light brown in color, they can fade with the passage of time but usually do not disappear completely.
- Mongolian spots: gray-blue in color, they may have the appearance of hematomas, most common on and back and buttocks. They may or may not fade with the passage of time.
Vascular spots
They are caused by small clots of blood vessels in the skin; Include:
- Salmon spots. Sometimes called "angel kisses" or "stork bites", they are flat, pinkish-red spots, and appear on the face or neck.
- Hemangiomas. Also called "strawberry", because of a bright red, when they form under the skin tend to develop during growth, hemangiomas usually reduce over time. This type of spots can sometimes affect the deeper structures of the skin; Therefore, it is important to consult your pediatrician or dermatologist for careful evaluation.
- Wine-port stains. Pink, red or purple in color, they often appear on the face, trunk and limbs. They do not disappear with growth, but tend to become larger, and can develop nodules within them.
Treatment Options for Congenital Nevi
The pediatrician (pediatric dermatology) will evaluate any congenital nevi after birth. In general, pigmented nevi go untreated, while vascular spots – except for salmon spots – can often be treated or removed.
Generally, lasers are used to treat wine-port stains, while for large hemangiomas drugs can be used.
Of course, before deciding to resort to any treatment, you should consult with the specialist, especially if a congenital nevus bleeds, itches or becomes infected or if a mole changes color, size or shape.