Oh, those first few days with your new baby. They’re just a whirlwind of tiny fingers, sleepy sighs, and… sometimes, little surprises on their skin. I’ve had so many new parents come in, eyes wide with worry, pointing to a little pink or reddish patch on their baby’s forehead or the back of their neck. “Doctor, what is this?” they’ll ask. More often than not, we’re looking at something called a stork bite.
So, what exactly is a stork bite? It’s a really common type of birthmark, and it’s completely harmless. You might also hear it called a “salmon patch” – because of the color, you see – or sometimes, an “angel kiss,” which is a lovely thought, isn’t it? The medical name for it is nevus simplex. These marks show up because tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, just under your baby’s delicate skin decided to stretch out a bit, or dilate, while your little one was still developing inside. Because newborn skin is so thin, that extra blood flow in those widened vessels makes the area look pink, red, or sometimes even a bit purplish.
Spotting a Stork Bite: What to Look For
How can you spot a stork bite? Well, they have a few tell-tale signs:
- They’re flat against the skin. Not bumpy.
- The color is usually a pink, reddish, or even purplish hue that’s different from your baby’s usual skin tone.
- Their shape is often irregular, maybe with soft, feathery edges rather than a sharp border.
You might notice the stork bite seems to get a bit brighter, more noticeable, when your baby is crying, really active, or if they get a little warm. It’s just those blood vessels responding. Another little quirk: if you gently press on it with your finger, it might lighten for a moment and then the color returns. Weird, right?
Common Spots for Stork Bites
Where do these little marks usually pop up?
Most often, you’ll find them on:
- The forehead
- The upper eyelids (those ‘angel kisses’!)
- The back of the neck (the classic ‘stork bite’ spot)
Less commonly, they can appear on the scalp or even the lower back.
Now, a question I get a lot is, “Is this stork bite a sign of something more serious?” And the answer, almost always, is no. These are incredibly common and usually just a little cosmetic quirk. Very, very rarely, and only if there are other specific physical differences we’d be looking for, a mark like this, especially on the lower back, could be a tiny piece of a puzzle for something called Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. But truly, that’s unusual. If we see a mark on the lower back and have any other concerns, we’ll chat about it, of course.
How We Figure Out It’s a Stork Bite
Good news here – diagnosing a stork bite is usually very straightforward. There aren’t any fancy tests needed. When your baby is born, and in those first few check-ups, we (your pediatrician or family doctor) will do a thorough look-over. We can typically identify a stork bite just by its appearance.
Sometimes, it can look a little bit like another type of birthmark called a port wine stain, which is different. But we’re trained to spot the differences.
What to Do About a Stork Bite
So, what’s the treatment for these common marks? In almost all cases, absolutely nothing! Because stork bites are harmless and so common, they don’t need any medical intervention. They’re just part of your baby’s unique arrival.
Now, what if it doesn’t fade as your child gets older? If a stork bite sticks around and, years down the line, your child (or you) would prefer it to be less noticeable for cosmetic reasons, there are options. Laser treatments can be quite effective at lightening or sometimes even removing a persistent nevus simplex. We’ll discuss all options for you and your little one if this becomes a concern.
When to Give Us a Call
While most stork bites are nothing to fret about, you should definitely reach out to your child’s healthcare provider if you notice the mark:
- Starts to get larger
- Changes color significantly
- Becomes raised or swollen to the touch
It’s always best to have us take a peek if anything changes or worries you.
What to Expect as Your Baby Grows
So, how long will this little stork bite be around? If your baby has one, it often fades quite a bit, or even disappears completely, within the first year or two of life. That’s the most common path.
Some can hang around a bit longer, and a few might even last into adulthood. We find that stork bites on the back of the head or neck are the ones most likely to stick around, though they often get much lighter and can be hidden by hair as your child grows.
And that little myth about the stork? It’s a sweet old tale, isn’t it? From folklore, the idea was that storks delivered babies, and these marks were where the stork gently held the baby with its beak. It’s a charming way people made sense of these common little spots.
Key Things to Remember About Stork Bites
Alright, let’s quickly recap the important bits about your baby’s stork bite:
- Stork bites (or nevus simplex) are common, harmless pink/red birthmarks.
- They’re caused by stretched blood vessels (capillaries) near the skin’s surface.
- You’ll often see them on the forehead, eyelids, or back of the neck.
- No treatment is usually needed; they often fade on their own.
- If one persists and is a cosmetic concern later, laser treatment is an option.
- Always call us if the stork bite changes, grows, or becomes raised.
So, if you’ve spotted one of these little marks on your precious newborn, take a deep breath. You’re certainly not alone, and it’s usually just one of those sweet, fleeting things about babyhood. We’re always here if you have questions, though!
