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Naevi (birthmarks)

What are naevi?

Congenital naevi or birthmarks are essentially coloured skin markings that develop before or shortly after birth. Benign developmental skin lesions that develop later in life are called ‘acquired’ naevi.

Naevi may be derived from the outside layers of the skin (epithelial naevi) or from the deeper layers (dermal/subcutaneous naevi). Naevi are further classified based on the cell type involved. Melanocytic and vascular naevi are generally the most common types of birthmarks.

What causes naevi?

Naevi are caused by visible clusters of cells in the skin. Vascular naevi are due to clusters of blood vessels, melanocytic naevi are due to clusters of pigmented skin cells (melanocytes), epidermal naevi to keratinocyte skin cells and so on. The exact cause of why these occur is unknown but it may relate to localised abnormalities of certain genes. There is no known way to prevent them.

What treatment is available?

See individual birthmark types for specific treatment options.