Most types of birthmarks are harmless and subtle. Other types of birthmarks are larger in size, unsightly and some may signal a child is at risk for a serious medical condition. With one in ten babies born with birthmarks, it is important to understand what kind of mark they have. The following includes some basic information about some of the most common types of birthmarks.

Port Wine Stain Birthmarks
Port wine stain birthmarks are a dark red or purple patch of skin that are textured in appearance and most commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, and upper arms. These marks can fade or can grow darker in time. Normally, port wine stain birthmarks are harmless, but if they are located on or around the eye, they can be a sign of a medical condition like glaucoma.

Mongolian Blue Spots
Mongolian blue spots are black and blue and often appear near the lower back or buttocks area of a child. These birthmarks generally disappear after a child turns five or six and are quite harmless.

Café Au Lait Spots
Café au lait spots are flat patches of birthmarks that are light brown or tan in texture. These birthmarks are permanent, generally smooth in texture, and can appear anywhere from a person's scalp to the stomach or leg area.

Congenital Pigmented Nevi
Congenital pigmented nevi are moles that are light or dark brown in color. These moles can appear anywhere on the body and can grow or darken in color over time. It is important to monitor these birthmarks because they can be a sign of a medical condition like cancer. Birthmark treatment or removal of these moles is common, easy, and even done on an outpatient basis.

Hemangioma Birthmarks
Hemangioma birthmarks are red in color and often appear on the neck and head area of a child's body. These birthmarks may not become visible until four to six weeks after a child's birth. When they do appear, they can grow quite fast. It is important to have a doctor perform a check for these birthmarks because they can interfere with basic activities, even the simple acts of seeing or breathing, and they can even appear on a person's internal organs.