How do we get birthmarks?
352624
What are birthmarks?\nBirthmarks are colored marks on the skin that are present at birth or develop shortly after birth. They can be many different sizes, shapes, and colors, including brown, tan, black, blue, pink, white, red, or purple. Some birthmarks appear on the surface of the skin; some are raised above the surface of the skin; and some are located under the skin. \n\nWhat causes birthmarks?\nIt is not clear why some children have birthmarks and others do not. Some birthmarks appear because a child has extra color (pigment) in his or her skin. Other birthmarks appear because a child's blood vessels did not develop normally or are grouped together too closely. Many folktales and myths exist about the causes of birthmarks, but none has been proven to explain the true causes of birthmarks.\n\nWhat kinds of birthmarks are there?\nSalmon patches (also called stork bites, angel kisses, and macular stains). Salmon patches are thin, flat, light pink or red birthmarks. They occur most frequently on the back of the neck, the upper eyelids, upper lip, or between the eyebrows.\nCongenital moles (nevi). Congenital moles can appear anywhere on the body. They vary in size and shape, and are generally brown in color.\nCafé-au-lait spots. Café-au-lait spots are smooth, generally oval birthmarks. They range in color from light brown to chocolate brown and are usually found on the torso, buttocks, and legs.\nMongolian spots. Mongolian spots are smooth, brown or blue-gray birthmarks. They usually are irregular in shape and are commonly found across the lower back and buttocks.\nHemangiomas. Hemangiomas are raised, blue, red, or purple birthmarks formed by a clump of immature blood vessels. They can be many sizes and shapes and are found both on the surface of the skin and deeper in the body.\nPort-wine stains. Port-wine stains are birthmarks that are pink-red at birth and then become a darker red-purple color. Port-wine stains are formed by blood vessels that did not develop properly. They can be small or they can cover a large area of the body.\nDo birthmarks need to be treated?\nMost birthmarks are harmless and need no treatment. They often fade or disappear as a child grows older.\n\nA birthmark that causes problems with sight, breathing, hearing, speech or movement may need treatment. Birthmarks that are found on internal organs always need treatment and may be associated with more serious problems. Treatment is most common for hemangiomas and port-wine stains and can include corticosteroids, laser therapy, and surgery. \n\nSometimes the appearance of a large birthmark can make a child or the parents of a child feel shy or self-conscious. In some cases, makeup or hairstyles can hide birthmarks. Counseling and/or support groups may also help with any emotional issues caused by a birthmark.\n\nIs it important to have birthmarks checked?\nMore than 90% of birthmarks are diagnosed by a careful medical history and physical exam.1 Some birthmarks stay the same as a child grows older, while some birthmarks fade or disappear. Others grow quickly over a short period of time. Although most are harmless, all birthmarks or any changes in a birthmark need to be checked by a health professional.
1179622
Diet and exercise are integral to stretch mark treatment geared to prevent the appearance of the mark. Stretch mark occurs when the skin loses its elasticity and suppleness. Thus you should have protein-intensive foods like diary products and eggs, Vitamins A, C and D-enriched foods like carrots, oranges and lemon and zinc-containing fish and nuts to maintain a healthy skin.\n\nDrink plenty of water and steer clear off aerated and caffeinated drinks. After all what you eat shows on you!\n\nAlso, have your daily quota of exercise in some form or the other. Regular exercise has its proven benefits: a sculpted body, improved blood circulation and healthy, firm skin.
363141
Time...inexpensive and that is all it takes.\n\nYour stretch marks will gradually become much less noticeable months after you give birth (or after losing a lot of weight) but will never go away as they are similar to scars. However, you can see a dermatologist to discuss treatment. Here are a few options:\n\n1. tretinoin cream (commonly known by the trade name Retin-A)\n2. laser therapy\n\nYour health insurance plan will not cover "cosmetic" procedures so you'll probably want to find out what this will cost.
542221
They r strech marks...try cocoa butter lotion...Its real good for strech marks...
338116
birthmark? scar? talk to your doctor.
689273
A skin tag, also known as an achrochordon, is a benign growth of skin that is connected to the body by a short stalk. Skin tags are found most commonly on the armpits, neck, and groin. People who develop skin tags tend to get more as they grow older. Skin tags can be surgically removed.What causes skin tags is unknown, but they do appear more frequently in areas      where the skin is rubbed by clothing or by other body parts, such as in creases like      your underarm. They also tend to appear in hot, moist places such as under the      breasts, between the thighs, or around the genitals.
407997
My dad believes that sooner or later we will have a barcode invisibly tattoo'd on our skin. All barcodes have two thin lines at the beginning, middle and end, and elsewhere in barcodes two thin lines signifies number 6. These barcodes will be connected to a database which will give your ID and credit info.\n\nI believe that may happen, but it is more likely to be a computer chip embedded in our skin. \n\nPlease say no to anything like this, particularly if they want to put it in your hand, forearm or forehead.
170500
Unfortunately stretch marks are the result of skin over stretching, often from quick gain of weight/size like pregnancy.  They will minimalize over time and some specialized creams may take away the redness, however.  Stretch marks are permanent.  Cosmetic surgury may be an option for some people.
1174208
There is no known cause; is appears and then diappears seemingly out of nowhere. It should NOT leave any permanent marks. I am not sure if you can get it again later in life.
845459
My ex-wife and I had 2 children together. She was a size 5 when we first got together, and went back to a size 5 after each child. She didnt get a single stretch mark anywhere on her body. She had normal, healthy pregnancies, gained an average of 35 pounds on each.\n\nI dont know if it helped or not, but we did get advice to use Cocoa Butter on the most likely places for stretch marks (Breasts, stomach, and inner thighs) so we did. But again, I can't say for sure if it helped, but I do know she didnt get any marks.
577010
Aw, don't be so embarrassed by them.  A lot of people have stretch marks, men and women.  Look around, you'd be surprised.  Even normal sized people can get them anywhere, I've seen them on the back of knees, upper arms, stomach, breasts, waist, you name it, it can stretch!
824018
Stretch marks not only come from pregnant and fat people, but also unhealthy skin.  You should take some omega 3 fatty acids for your skin's health.  You need to moisturize as well.  Most of us have stretch marks.  They are really hard to get rid of.  Prevent by eating right (Sugar ages you and your skin FAST so treat it like the poison it is) and keeping your skin moist from the inside and outside.\nGood luck!
457417
no. you have to go to the dr and they use a type of medical sand paper to scrap or remove the marks by sanding them down. other then bleaching them.
701776
sounds like what is known as dermographism, do this experiment, use a key to write your name on your forearm, in a few minutes it will appear on the skin, if that happens then search for dermographism pictures on yahoo, you will find a lot, good luck
849488
Stretch marks ("striae" is the medical term) occur in skin that has stretched (usually with growth of something underneath it). Most commonly this occurs with pregnancy (rapid growth of the abdomen and breasts) and sometimes with puberty (rapid growth of the female breasts). It can occur with weight gain or height gain by itself.\n\nIt occurs in particular people and not in others because of differences in the collagen of the skin.\n\nThe collagen is a long protein that is used in making up the stuff between the cells. There are several different types of collagen depending on what part of the body it's being used. In our skin it comes as sheets and long strands and is responsible for the skin's tensile strength and the ability to keep other stuff out and our cells together.\n\nMany families (I think the majority of families, in fact) have a type of collagen that when it stretches can cause stretch marks.\n\nAsk your mum and dad about who has stretch marks in the family. You might be surprised!\n\nThere is no sure-fire way to removing stretch marks. Various ways that have been tried include laser / dermabrasion / cocoa butter.
442543
it is genetic.  during embryonic stages the skin pigments kinda move around and the patterns are all different, just like dogs and cats.  it is usually on multiple genes and varies a bit.  our fingerprints do a similar thing.  in the womb we move around and actually make our fingerprints smear to their current way.
484690
I wish I could post my belly pic as I have the most heinous stretchies ever...I cant find a finger width of normal skin between them. You can have laser treatment (think tattoo removal) but it only eliminates 30% of the marks.  Don't bother with the cocoa butter stuff as that does as much for stretch marks as the gas and air does for labour pain (not much).  Apparently Bio oil can reduce them but not cure them. Just resolve never to wear a bikini again, or get them tattoo'd over to look like tiger stripes!!