Slide show: Birthmarks

A port-wine stain is a permanent birthmark present from birth. It starts out pinkish or reddish and turns darker as the child grows. Most often, a port-wine stain appears on the face, but it can affect other areas of the body. The involved skin may thicken slightly and develop an irregular, pebbled surface in adulthood.

The physical changes and a port-wine stain's cosmetic appearance can cause both medical problems and emotional stress. Laser therapy is the usual treatment. Sometimes port-wine stains occur with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome or Sturge-Weber syndrome, which requires regular medical evaluation.