Many people have birthmarks, not just you! This is a very common and usually harmless condition, and most people don't need treatment for it. However, you may feel embarrassed to have one, which is normal. Luckily, you can do several things to hide or lighten birthmarks. Unfortunately, there are no recommended home remedies to lighten birthmarks yet. So, going to a dermatologist (dermatologist) is the best option. By doing so, you can get the best treatment and no longer have to worry about birthmarks.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Recommended Treatment
While you may not want to go to a dermatologist, there are no recommended home remedies for lightening birthmarks. Fortunately, there are still many treatment options that you can do to lighten or remove birthmarks. Instead of trying home remedies, you should go to a dermatologist for a check-up. The doctor will tell you various options to choose from to lighten the birthmark.
Step 1. Go to a dermatologist for advice on the best treatment options
Since there are so many different types of birthmarks and ways to lighten them, you should go to a dermatologist to discuss them. A dermatologist can recognize birthmarks and suggest the best options.
- A common birthmark is the Café-au-lait freckle. This name was taken because these birthmarks look like brown coffee drops on the skin. These spots do not go away on their own.
- Salmon patches, which are red patches that are usually more visible when the skin is hot. These birthmarks often fade over time.
- Port wine spots, which are dark red or purple patches that can make the skin rough. These birthmarks generally won't fade and won't go away for a lifetime if left untreated.
- It's important to see a dermatologist because in some rare cases, birthmarks can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
Step 2. Monitor whether the color in the strawberry hemangioma birthmark is fading
Strawberry hemangioma is a birthmark that grows from a mass of blood vessels under the skin. It is commonly experienced by infants and grows during the first few months of a child's life. Fortunately, these birthmarks usually shrink gradually as children grow and can disappear completely. If your child has a strawberry hemangioma, your doctor may ask you to monitor it and leave it alone if the birthmark goes away on its own.
In rare cases, a strawberry hemangioma on the face can interfere with vision, breathing, or breastfeeding. If this happens, the doctor will suggest further treatment
Step 3. Use laser therapy to lighten permanent birthmarks
Some types of birthmarks, such as port grape or Café-au-lait spots, don't fade on their own. In this case, you can use laser therapy to lighten the freckle and make it less visible. The procedure is non-invasive and can lighten birthmarks up to 70-90%.
- The laser causes minimal damage to the skin, so the spots will be painful and slightly bruised after the treatment. This condition will recover within one week.
- In general, the longer the birthmark stays on the skin, the longer it will take to lighten. Laser therapy has a higher success in children, and you may need further treatment as an adult.
Step 4. Use the remedy to shrink and lighten the birthmark
This may not be unthinkable, but some medications can reduce blood flow to the birthmark, which makes it brighter. This drug can be oral or topical. Always follow your dermatologist's directions and take all medications as directed.
- Oral medications that a dermatologist may recommend include propranolol and corticosteroids.
- Some of the recommended topical medications include steroids and timolol.
Step 5. Remove the birthmark if there is a risk of skin cancer
This treatment is rarely performed and a dermatologist usually only recommends it if he or she considers the birthmark to be potentially cancerous. During this minor procedure, the dermatologist will cut the birthmark and remove it all. Follow the instructions given to treat the wound after you have had this procedure to avoid infection.
You can also have minor surgery to remove any raised, but non-cancerous birthmarks if this is really bothering you
Step 6. Use cryotherapy to freeze the birthmark
This treatment is rarely used, but it may work with birthmarks. Through cryotherapy, the dermatologist will remove the birthmark by freezing it.
Cryotherapy is not popular because of the risk of scarring of the skin
Method 2 of 2: Hiding Birthmarks Naturally
Maybe you want to use natural ways to lighten birthmarks. Unfortunately, there are no medically approved natural remedies. Creams and home remedies like lemon juice are unlikely to work, and some ingredients can even irritate the skin. Fortunately, there are still several options for hiding or masking birthmarks that you find annoying. You can make the birthmark less visible without having to undergo a medical procedure.
Step 1. Use makeup to hide the birthmark
It's normal to feel embarrassed about a birthmark (wherever it is located). Luckily, you can help hide it with makeup. Buy some concealer that matches your skin tone. Start by applying basic makeup on the birthmark before you apply the concealer. Finish the process by applying some powder on it.
Ask a dermatologist for advice on what makeup is right for you
Step 2. Use a hairdo to hide the birthmark on the face
If you have a birthmark on your face or neck, and you have long hair, you can get creative to cover it up. Try experimenting with some hairstyles to hide and cover birthmarks.
- For example, if the birthmark is on the forehead, you can use bangs to cover it up.
- If the birthmark is on the neck or around the ear, you can cover it with long hair.
Step 3. Avoid tattooing birthmarks
This may be considered an easy way to hide birthmarks anywhere on the body, but this is not recommended by doctors. Although rare, birthmarks can turn into cancer, which can be recognized by a sudden change, such as a birthmark becoming raised or turning dark. If you cover it with a tattoo, these changes will not be visible. To keep yourself healthy, never get a tattoo just to cover up a birthmark.
You can still tattoo your body, but don't cover up your birthmark
Medical Overview
Lots of people have birthmarks, and this is nothing to be ashamed of! However, if you still want to get rid of it, go to a dermatologist for professional treatment, instead of trying home remedies, which tend to be ineffective and can make the condition worse. Alternatively, you can try hiding it so it's less visible.
