Birthmarks of Potential Medical Significance

Introduction Birthmarks are common ( 8% to 10%) in newborns. Most birthmarks represent vascular and pigmentary lesions. The natural history of these lesions varies from being transient phenomena and essentially normal variants of no clinical significance to permanent cutaneous abnormalities that may be associated with significant systemic complications or diseases. Table 1 lists some neonatal skin lesions that should be recognized by the clinician as clues to more serious disorders. This review describes some of the most commonly encountered, clinically significant birthmarks, emphasizing those findings that should prompt early assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment and counseling.