The birthing process is difficult, both for the infant and the mother. For the child, entrance into the world outside of his or her mother can be arduous, leaving them marked with pink lesions on their skin. Most of these fade in a few days, but in some cases, birthmarks remain. These marks are referred to as stork bites or angel’s kisses, but the technical term is midline venular malformations. At Vascular Birthmark Institute, we can diagnose this condition and offer treatment when necessary to remove these malformations from a child’s skin.
Midline venular malformations are common, with one in three children born with an angel’s kiss. Most commonly they are found on the forehead, eyelids, upper lip and on the back of the neck. These birthmarks are pink in color and have no symptoms other than their visibility. In most cases, a stork bite will fade and disappear on its own by the time the child turns three. However, those located on the back of the neck are more prone to permanency.
Laser Treatments for Stork Bites and Angel Kisses
In children with midline venular malformations that do not fade with time, there are options to remove or lighten the appearance of these birthmarks. Laser therapy, specifically pulsed dye laser (PDL) or diode laser, can be used to remove the appearance of an angel kiss or stork bite. This is a noninvasive option to fade capillaries under the skin and reduce the appearance of pink or reddish birthmarks. These lasers are effective in treating a minimal depth of the skin and are safe when used by one of our vascular experts at Vascular Birthmark Institute.
If you are concerned about a birthmark on your child, contact us today and come see our team of vascular tumor and birthmark physicians at Vascular Birthmark Institute. We can discuss treatment options to reduce the appearance of midline venular malformations at our clinic in New York, NY.