There are many different skin colorations that fall into the category of vascular and pigmented lesions. Some of these pigmentation issues are present at the time of birth while others are acquired later on. Vascular lesions tend to appear as a red mark on the skin which is as a result of a blood concentration that is capable of being seen through to the outer layers of the skin. Pigmented lesions on the other hand tend to be brown if they are a result of the body’s natural pigmentation, or they may take on a variety of other colors if they exist as a result of pigments that have been introduced to the body later on.
Who is affected by pigmentation issues?
Both vascular and pigmented lesions can appear equally between patients in both genders and from all racial backgrounds. These pigmentation issues are not passed from one generation to the next generation genetically.
What forms do pigmentation lesions take?
Vascular lesions: These pigmentation issues generally appear on the neck, the face and the upper body. They are typically port wine stains or what are known as strawberry hemangiomas. The port wine stains are typically present during birth, and they grow larger when the patient ages, so they generally cover the same proportion of skin over time. When the patient ages, the port wine stain may turn to a darker color red, and it may appear more prominently on the skin. Over time, they can also grow to a thicker state and may feel less smooth.
Strawberry hemangiomas, on the other hand, develop post-birth, and they grow rapidly. They also tend to go away all on their own. Unless the pigmentation lesion is bleeding or is interfering with some vital function, a dermatology treatment is not typically necessary for this type of pigmentation issue.
Pigmented lesions: Pigmented lesions come in many different forms including natural pigments, moles, café au lait spots, freckles, liver spots and tattoos. Tattoos are caused by introducing foreign pigmentation into the skin. Café au lait spots are irregularly shaped tan spots that generally appear at birth. Moles are also generally present at birth, and they are more regular and smaller in shape than other pigmented lesions. Liver spots and freckles both appear after birth as a result of age and sunlight exposure.
What can I do about pigmentation issues?
A dermatologist will use a visual examination to evaluate vascular lesions, or a biopsy to evaluate a pigmented lesion depending on what you are dealing with. The physical nature and the distribution of such a lesion are going to tell the dermatologist what they need to know about the individual pigmentation issue and the best course of action for pigmentation treatment.
If you have questions about a pigmentation problem, come talk to us at Dermatology of Seattle so that we can show you the best course of action for treatment.
