Stork Bite and Angel Kiss Birthmarks on Newborns

Stork bites and angel kisses are common birthmarks found in newborns. In fact, approximately one third of infants have at least one of these salmon colored patches on their skin. What causes stork bites and angel kisses? Are they preventable and will they fade? Below is some information about stork bite and angel kiss birthmarks that every expectant and new parent should know.

What causes stork bites and angel kisses?

Stork bites and angel kisses are caused by dilation of blood vessels and are easily diagnosed by a pediatrician. They are not preventable, as according to Dr. Greene, all babies have salmon patches in utero during their development. However, only about one third of babies are born with this common birthmark.

Stork bite birthmarks are likely permanent

A stork bite is a red, flat, salmon colored birthmark on baby's neck. Both of my children were born with a stork bite on the back of their neck, as was their father. Other than being noticeable by parents while baby's hair is growing in, they are harmless. According to Dr. Greene, these salmon colored patches are nothing more than dilated capillaries. When baby cries, they may deepen in color, but they are not harmful to baby. A stork bite may fade within baby's first year, but it is just as likely that it will not fade and will instead remain as a permanent birthmark.

No worries: My daughter's hair grew nicely over her stork bite and is barely noticeable unless you lift her hair and really look for it. My son's stork bite is mainly visible right after a fresh hair cut.

What about angel kisses?

Angel kisses fall into the same category of harmless birth marks as stork bites or salmon patches do. Angel kisses get their name because of their location - on the face between the baby's eyebrows or eyelids. An angel kiss is more likely to fade over time and I have found this to be true. My son, who was blessed to be both stork bitten and angel kissed, has a very light amount of red discoloring between his eyebrows. As an infant, this patch of skin did redden up when he cried or screamed.

Our pediatrician told us that if the angel kiss was going to fade, it would do so by about age two. I have found this to be largely true because as my son grew from infant to toddler, the birthmark did fade, although not completely. He now has just a very minuscule discoloration on his face that is barely noticeable unless you are looking closely.

Overall, a stork bite birthmark or angel kiss birthmark is nothing to worry about. Nonetheless, parents who are concerned about their child's appearance should ask their pediatrician about potential treatment options.

Sources:

Personal experience

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1177.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001388.htm