What causes strawberry birthmarks? If you or someone you know has this red, often raised birthmark, you might wonder about its origin. The answer is both complicated and simple. These birthmarks are fairly common and can appear on the face and neck or on the stomach, lower back or even the thigh area. The birthmarks have their name because they often appear soft and even like a strawberry. A strawberry birthmark may not be present at birth but will appear in four to six weeks time.

With 1 in 20 babies born with strawberry birthmarks, the condition is fairly common. Often, the skin condition occurs because blood vessels have collected along with the development of a fetus or because of the overgrowth of blood cells during this time. This concentration of blood cells is what causes the red color of the birthmark. Strawberry birthmarks are also often thought to be a feature of premature babies.

There are many old wives tales or sayings about strawberry birthmarks. For example, it used to be said that they were the result of the mother touching or eating too many strawberries while pregnant. Today, many researchers believe that the condition can happen by chance or that there may be a genetic connection where people in a family are more predisposed to being born with strawberry birthmarks.

Some strawberry birthmarks will go away and fade with time, whereas others may grow and darken. It is important for your doctor to keep an eye on these birthmarks. For example, if the birthmark is located near the child's eye, it can make it hard for the child to blink or to see, especially if the birthmark grows. If you want to remove such a mark, it is important to talk with a doctor so that you have all the information you need. Common skin care treatments for strawberry birthmarks include laser therapy and surgery.