Birthmarks and CVMs

Vascular malformations form on or near the skin’s surface and can appear as anything from a simple birthmark or an area of deep purple discoloration to a 3-dimensional lump made of arteries or veins. They may bleed or be painful.

Birthmarks are not all the same. In fact, there are several potential causes for a birthmark to form, including two types caused by CVM. Birthmarks can be harmless, but many can develop problems as a child grows older or later in life as an adult. There are several types of birthmarks including:

Most birthmarks result from a CVM that forms as a cluster of small blood vessels that sit near the skin’s surface. They vary in size from small to large, are usually permanent and maintain the same size and appearance throughout a person’s lifetime.

Hemangiomas (non-cancerous vascular tumors) grow rapidly within months after first appearing, but most disappear completely by age 6, leaving behind a patch of elastic-feeling skin. Sometimes, though, a hemangioma may develop an ulcer, a crater-like area of skin loss. This ulceration can be unsightly and may even impact how the affected area of your body functions.

Port-wine stains are capillary malformations that run through the deeper layers of the skin. At birth, they may appear pink or red, but with time change into a deep purple color. They can be disfiguring, and many people with port-wine stains seek treatment if the stain appears on the face, neck or other areas where skin is exposed. Port-wine stains can cause changes to skin texture, creating a “cobblestone effect,” and can be associated with overgrowth of underlying bone and soft tissue.

Lesion or wound-type birthmarks include:

• Venous malformations form bluish patches (lesions) on the skin and linings of the nose and mouth. These lesions can be painful, causing inflammation and swelling. This type of malformation, which is present at birth, usually becomes larger and new lesions may appear.
• Deformity of the lymphatic channels, known as lymphatic malformations, can be found within the skin or soft tissue. This type of CMV is especially at risk for infection, including swelling, warmth, redness and pain.
• When lesions form at the skin, they appear as a painful cluster of blisters that sometimes discharge watery fluid (vesicles). This is called a microcystic malformation. Macrocystic malformation lesions form deeper in the body’s soft tissue. They are often found in the neck or armpit as a hard lump with a bluish skin discoloration.
• Arteriovenous malformations. This rarest type of CMV can also be life-threatening. These malformations are present at birth but usually don’t create any symptoms other than appearing as pinkish-red blushes on the skin. Due to unusually increased blood flow from abnormal artery-vein connections, the soft tissue, the surrounding skin, and underlying bone may die. This can cause pain and lead to episodes of bleeding that can be life-threatening. Expansion of these lesions can cause significant disfigurement and functional problems as well.