Each and everyone will have birthmarks in one or other places. Since they are usually permanent, they are called as mother's mark or angel's kiss. There are two types of birthmarks, i.e., pigmentation mark (Brown or Black) and vascular mark (Red or Blue). Pigmentation mark is called as mole and vascular mark is called as or Naevi. They can be flat or raised and regular or irregular in shape. Also, both the moles and usually vary in size (from tiny dot to mammoth) and happens to grow slightly after the birth. Sometimes, it may also regress in course of time. They are mostly harmless and painless. But, if any of the birthmarks happens to grow in fast manner, surely one need to be cautious and have to consult a physician immediately, since they can turn to be cancerous by any of the time.

Birthmark is a congenital (developmental) malformation of blood vessels. Medically, it is treated as benign tumour of blood vessels (proliferation of inner lining (endothelial) cells of blood vessels). It is the most common benign tumour of new born / children. "Haemal" is meant for pertaining to blood or blood vessels, "oma" is meant for any tumour and "Angioma" is meant for the tumour whose cells tend to form blood vessels. In general, it is just like having extra or over grown or enlarged blood vessels (with normal cells / linings). It is otherwise called as Infantile or Haemartoma.

INCIDENCES - Its prevalence seem to affect around 5% of children. It is most commonly seen in girls than boys and especially with premature babies. Any how, it can occur even in adult too in any of the time. It commonly occurs as single especially in head or around neck area, but can also occur anywhere (outer or inner parts of the body).

CAUSES - The exact reason for is still unrevealed. Even though s are not usually hereditary, siblings of the affected child often seems to have s.

TYPES - Chiefly there are three types of s

Capillary (superficial angiomatous naevi) - Commonly seen in scalp, face, neck, lip, etc and is reddish in colour. They are otherwise called as simplex or Strawberry birthmark or Spider angiomas or Naevi.

Cavernous (subcutaneous angiomatous naevi) - are usually deep inside the body and reflect as bluish or bluish red in colour. It is common in lips, tongue, scalp, face, liver, buttocks, etc. Further it is commonly associated with internal organs.

Plexiform (mixed angiomatous naevi) - This form of is some what dangerous if happened to bleed. Most often it occurs in temple area of face.

SYMPTOMS - Most of the time, remains only as a cosmetic disfigurement without any other symptom. The appearance of a hemangioma depends on its site, occurrence, growth, involution nature, etc. They may undergo spontaneous regression or involution. Occasionally, it can cause symptoms according to the place and size of the . Commonly, it

• Occurs congenitally or just after the birth
• Reddish or Bluish red in appearance
• Looks like bag of worms (or like spider) with enlarged / engorged blood vessels seen underneath the skin
• Has active blood supply and is Compressible (i.e., fades on pressure)
• Burning / itching / feeling hot over the patch

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