Hello, I'm a medical professional with a focus on dermatology. I can provide you with an explanation of how birthmarks form.

Birthmarks are congenital skin anomalies that can be present at birth or develop shortly after. They are caused by an overgrowth or clustering of certain types of cells or blood vessels in the skin. The exact cause of most birthmarks is not fully understood, but they are thought to occur during embryonic development when the baby's skin is forming.

There are several types of birthmarks, including vascular birthmarks, which involve the blood vessels, and pigmented birthmarks, which involve the pigment cells. Some common types include:


1. Port-wine stains: These are vascular birthmarks that appear as flat, pink, purple, or dark red patches on the skin. They are caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels.

2. Strawberry hemangiomas: These are raised, bright red birthmarks that look like small, red strawberries. They are also caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels.

3. Café-au-lait spots: These are flat, brown birthmarks that can occur anywhere on the body. They are caused by an increase in the number of pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin.

4. Moles: Also known as melanocytic nevi, these are small, pigmented growths on the skin that are usually brown or black.

While most birthmarks are harmless, some can have medical implications or cosmetic concerns. It's important to have any unusual marks evaluated by a healthcare professional.

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There are two main types of birthmarks, which have different causes. Vascular (blood vessel) birthmarks happen when blood vessels don't form correctly �� either there are too many of them or they're wider than usual. Pigmented birthmarks are caused by an overgrowth of the cells that create pigment (color) in skin.read more >>