How do we treat birthmarks?
While you can leave most birthmarks alone, it’s important to see a dermatologist soon after you notice a birthmark. Some birthmarks can cause a problem later on. Treatment can prevent that.
At All India Skin and Hair Hospital, we recommend treatment if your child has a:
- Strawberry hemangioma on the face or groin: This birthmark tends to grow quickly before fading. If one appears near your child’s eye, mouth, or nose, treatment can prevent it from covering that part of your child’s body. In the groin area, treatment can prevent pain later on.
- Port-wine stain: This birthmark will not go away with time. It can grow and thicken. Early treatment tends to be more effective.
- Very large or visible birthmark: If the birthmark affects the child’s appearance and could cause problems with self-esteem, your dermatologist may recommend treatment.
- Epidermal nevus: Hyperpigmented linear birthmark may occur on scalp and face and body.
Dr. Indu is expert in these modalities:
- Radiofrequency ablation: It is a very safe technique to ablate nevus like epidermal nevus.
- Laser therapy: This may be an option for a port-wine stain, a type of birthmark that won’t go away with time. Nevus of ota on the face responds very well with lasers.
- Propranolol: This medication can effectively prevent a hemangioma from growing. It can also shrink a growing hemangioma. A special formulation of this drug has proven effective for treating children with large hemangiomas. This drug has been approved to treat this type of birthmark.Timolol: This medication can also help shrink a growing hemangioma. It comes in liquid form, so you’d apply it to your child’s birthmark. It’s commonly used to treat babies who have glaucoma. When used to treat a hemangioma, dermatologists prescribe a lower dose of the medication than would be used to treat glaucoma.
- Surgery to remove the birthmark: This type of surgery can be used to cut out a birthmark. It may be recommended if your child has a birthmark that could become a skin cancer, such as a mole. When mole removal is recommended, it is often done when the child reaches puberty. Surgery can also be helpful for treating a large raised birthmark that won’t go away on its own and affects your child’s appearance.
