Birthmark Treatments Portland ME

Find top doctors who perform Birthmark Treatments in Portland, ME. Whether you’re seeking treatment or looking to schedule a preventative screening, we can connect you with the best dermatologists near you in Portland, ME.

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Birthmark Treatments FAQ in Portland, ME

What are birthmarks made of?

Birthmarks are made up of malformed pigment cells or blood vessels. Although the cause of birthmarks is not known, most of them are benign (noncancerous) and do not require treatment. Babies with birthmarks should be examined and diagnosed by a health care provider.

Can chemical peels get rid of birthmarks?

Chemical Peel: A chemical peel uses a medical-grade chemical solution to remove the top layer of skin over the birthmark. As your body replaces the birthmark skin with new cells, the texture evens out.

Can birthmarks be harmful?

Usually birthmarks are only a concern for your appearance. But certain types can increase your risk of skin cancer. If your birthmark bleeds, hurts, itches, or becomes infected, call your health care provider.

Why is the birthmark important?

Georgiana’s birthmark symbolizes mortality. According to the narrator, every living thing is flawed in some way, nature’s way of reminding us that every living thing eventually dies. The hand-shaped mark on Georgiana’s cheek is the one blemish on an otherwise perfect being, a blemish that marks her as mortal.

Can you lighten a birthmark?

Laser treatment uses highly focused beams of light to reduce the size and lessen the color of birthmarks. This includes red birthmarks, such as strawberry hemangiomas and port wine stains; brown birthmarks, such as café au lait spots; and blue birthmarks, such as facial dermal melanocytosis.

How can I flatten my birthmark?

Shaving or surgery physically removes the birthmark, whereas lasers shrink blood vessels to make vascular birthmarks less visible. Medication is also used to shrink certain birthmarks, like some hemangiomas.

Is it rare to have a brown birthmark?

Café-au-lait spots are named for their light brown color: “Café-au-lait” means “coffee with milk” in French. Although some are present at birth, most café-au-lait spots appear well after a child is born. They are relatively common—as many as 30 percent of children have a café-au-lait birthmark by age 6.

Can a birthmark be removed completely?

Your birthmark can be removed by performing minor surgery. It can be done for very deep hemangiomas that might damage your healthy tissues. It is usually an outpatient treatment and may even be done in your dermatologist’s office rather than a hospital.

Can I remove birthmark without surgery?

Yes. Most types of birthmarks can be removed with laser treatments. The laser used depends upon the type and colour of the birthmark being removed. In some rare cases and depending on the size, surgical excision might be necessary to remove a birthmark.

Does everyone get a birthmark?

While birthmarks are common, not everyone has one. There’s no way to predict if a child will have a birthmark or not. Not having a birthmark isn’t a sign of a particular health condition or a cause for concern. Also, remember that many types of birthmarks fade as children get older.

Why are birthmarks called?

Birthmarks get their name for one simple reason: They are marks that are present on the skin of a lot of newborn babies! A baby can develop birthmarks either before being born or soon after birth. One of the most common types of birthmarks is called a hemangioma (say: he-man-jee-OH-muh).

How long does it take to remove a birthmark with laser?

Birthmark removal treatment can take as little as 10 minutes, and the procedure can be carried out safely by a qualified doctor using a special type of laser.

Can I laser my birthmark?

Laser is used to treat skin birthmarks, such as brown/black spots and vascular lesions (pink or red marks caused by abnormal blood vessels). Vascular lesions include port wine stains and haemangiomas (strawberry naevus).

What age can birthmarks be removed?

laser therapy – where heat and light are used to make the birthmark smaller and lighter (it works best if started between 6 months and 1 year of age)