Birthmark Treatments Bainbridge Island WA

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

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Birthmark Treatments FAQ in Bainbridge Island, WA

Can Vaseline remove marks?

Use Vaseline® Jelly for Scars By sealing in moisture it also helps to reduce dryness of scarred skin, once your skin has healed. This may help to improve the appearance of scars, making the skin look smoother and softer, as well as help to reduce itchiness caused by dryness.

Can you shave birthmarks?

A shave excision treatment is used to permanently remove moles and birthmarks from the skin. Shave biopsies and punch biopsies are also used by dermatologists to evaluate skin lesions for skin cancer.

What kind of birthmarks are rare?

Venous Malformations These birthmarks are very rare. A vascular malformation is a tangle of blood vessels that are usually bigger and more protruding than other blood vessel birthmarks. Venous malformations do not fade away over time and often need to be treated.

Should birthmarks be removed?

Many birthmarks do not require surgical intervention and either shrink and fade on their own or respond well to medication or laser therapy. However, our dermatologists may recommend surgery for some types of birthmarks.

Can birthmarks turn cancerous?

Most birthmarks, such as the common port wine stains and strawberry marks, carry no risk of developing into a cancer. But a very rare type, called a giant congenital melanocytic naevus, can develop into a melanoma if it is larger than 20cm.

Is laser birthmark removal painful?

The pain of the laser is similar to small flicks on the skin with a rubber band. Most adults can tolerate this, but children may find it more difficult and require some anaesthetic cream or mild sedation. See our fact sheet Sedation for procedures.

What age do birthmarks appear?

They may not appear at birth, but often develop in the first 2 months. Strawberry hemangiomas are more common in premature babies and in girls. These birthmarks often grow in size for several months, and then gradually begin to fade. They may bleed or get infected in rare cases.

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.

What is the most common birthmark?

Salmon patches (also called stork bites, angel kisses, or macular stains) are the most common type of birthmark.

Do birthmarks come back after removal?

Keep in mind that laser treatments may not get rid of the birthmark entirely (though some birthmarks disappear completely after treatment). Plus, over time the birthmark may come back and need to be retreated.

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.

Are birthmarks genetic?

Some birthmarks are hereditary and run in families, but most aren’t. Very occasionally, some are caused by gene mutations. For example, some babies born with a type of birthmark called port-wine stains (because they look similar to a splash of wine) may have a rare condition called Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

What do cancerous birthmarks look like?

One part of a mole or birthmark doesn’t match the other. The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.

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).

Is Vitamin E good for scars?

Anecdotal reports claim that vitamin E speeds wound healing and improves the cosmetic outcome of burns and other wounds. Many lay people use vitamin E on a regular basis to improve the outcome of scars and several physicians recommend topical vitamin E after skin surgery or resurfacing.