What is the difference in hemangeoma and portwein stain birthmarks?

Question

My daughter was born with a birthmark that starts on her left upper chest and goes all the way down her arm to her hand.It is under the skin.It looks like a spotty sunburn.

Answer 1

Hemangiomas and port wine stain birthmarks are both caused by dialated capillaries. In the case of hemangiomas, the capillaries are clustered together and usually form a raised lump on the surface of the skin. In a port wine stain, the capillaries just under the surface aren't clustered together and the surface of the skin is smooth. It just looks like somebody spilled red wine on them and stained the skin darker. You describe a port wine stain on your daugher. If she is still an infant, some of the stain may fade out over time. It's not life threatening, but of course the esthetic appearance can be of concern sometimes. If you consult a dermatologist, they may be able to do something to help it. Usually port wine stains respond quite nicely to laser therapy, which helps shrink the capillaries and reduces the red appearance of the skin.

Answer 2

A hemangioma is basically a non-cancerous benign growth of capillaries. It is usually much smaller than what you describe.

Port wine stains are:
Usually present at birth
Is usually flat pink-to-purplish on skin in infants
Most commonly seen on face and neck (but may occur on trunk or extremities)
Is usually slightly more reddish-to-purplish lesion, flat to slightly raised in older children
Is usually darkly red-to-purplish lesion in adults ( port win stain appearance)

Port wine stains are usually benign.
There is a very rare genetic condition called klippel-trenaunay-weber-syndrome.

K-T-W has the following symptoms:
Port-wine stain or "birthmark" (capillary malformations in the skin)
Soft tissue and bony hypertrophy (excessive growth of the soft tissue and/or bones)
Venous malformations & lymphatic abnormalities
One limb is bigger than the other.

Both of my children had numerous hemangiomas at birth and turned out fine. But please have her evaluated by a pediatrician who is experienced in these matters.