Birthmarks are coloured skin patches that may be present at birth or develop shortly after birth hence they are also referred to as congenital nevi. In some instances birth marks may be non-threatening and they may even disappear with elapse of time yet people may have them removed by surgery for cosmetic or health reasons. It is for this reason that knowing the basic categories of birthmarks and the different methods of removal are essential in order to come to an accurate conclusion. Keep reading to learn more.
Types of Birthmarks
Birth marks generally fall into two categories: Based on the involved nervous structures they are: Vascular and pigmented. Several types of birthmarks exist; blood vascular birthmarks include port wine stains, hemangiomas and salmon patches while pigmented vascular birthmarks include café-au-lait spots, Mongolian spots and congenital moles.
There is usually a wide list of reasons that a person can go for removal, including personal values and beauty concerns or even possibility of malignancy, especially in large congenital moles. Some mammary skin marks may have physical effects on the human body; for instance when the birth marks are close to the eyes or lips they may affect normal functioning of these vital organs others may be psychologically disturbing.
Birthmark Removal Methods
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy mainly affects certain types of birthmarks which include vascular such as port-wine stain and hemangiomas. This is not a surgical procedure and it works by treating the blood vessels at the surface that slowly disappears over time. It can help cover large sections, but with little disruption to the foreground area; the tumor may, however, require more than one session and present skin color changes.
Surgical Excision
The options that are available include surgical removal where the birthmark is cut out and sutured. It is applied frequently when the birthmark is elevated or is considered to develop into a cancerous growth. Although you can have moles surgically removed completely in one session and can be useful for getting a tissue sample for a biopsy, this approach is likely to leave a scar and takes a longer amount of time to heal.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy involves spraying liquid nitrogen over the birthmark so as to freeze the entire cells. This method is generally adopted for tiny, superficial scarring as it entails lesser depths. They have less time, less risks and discomfort compared with other skin procedures but might need several sessions and can blotch the skin or leave a scar.
Topical Treatments
For some of them, an over-the-counter medication, a bleaching cream or a retinoid may be enough as a topical treatment to help reduce the color of the mark over time. Non-invasive and can be done by a person at the comfort of their home but the results may not be so encouraging and it can even take several months before any improvement is noticed. This applies for any other medication that you may have to apply on the skin because the likelihood of developing a rash is always high.
Chemical Peels
In this method, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which causes the top layer to broil and peel off; this can be helpful in lightening some types of birthmarks. This method enhances the skin texture globally and is not as invasive as the surgeries since it takes only a few minutes and does not cause pain and swelling as surgeries do but it needs more than one session as its effectiveness may decrease after a few months, and it also has side effects like skin rashing or discoloration.
Considerations Before Removal
Laser and Surgery Skin treatments must only be done after consulting a best dermatologist in Islamabad or a plastic surgeon to know the appropriate method to use in the birthmark removal process. It is important to be aware of possible hazards that exist with any removal technique being applied while at the same time focusing on the advantages of the particular removal technique.
One needs to think about the feasibility for its removal and consider the position of the birthmark and how its removal might impact the rest of the tissues. Know that some skin birthmarks may be wholly or partly eliminated but may also reappear at later times.
For children especially, that’s why it is advised that a child should not have it removed until they reach a certain age or there are some health issues. One also should clarify whether the insurance will cover the treatment, because many birthmark removals are considered to be aesthetic procedures and, therefore, not included in the insurance coverage.
Aftercare and Recovery
Here, post-treatment measures may differ depending on the technique of removal but typical recommendations include: cleaning the treated area, avoiding water in the area for several hours by which time the skin should have dried, applying prescribed creams or bandages, avoiding direct sunlight, and meeting up with the doctor as recommended.
Conclusion
Laser therapy facelift/Removal of birthmark is cosmetic surgery and everyone should make that decision on his or her own with doctor’s advice. However you should know that there are many techniques to effect removal and therefore apportion the benefits against the potential pitfalls and choose the perfect mode of removal given the individual need and circumstances. If people can invest proper care and set up certain expectations, one can easily fade away some of the birth marks that are present and feel comfortable with the skin that they have got. For birthmark removal you can consult a dermatologist to know more about your treatment options.