Description

What treatments are available for the removal or reduction of birth marks? Dr. Michel McDonald of the Department of Dermatology at Vanderbilt University, answers in this video.

Transcript

Kelly: Hi! I am Kelly from Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and I want to know how birthmarks can be treated? Dr. Michel McDonald: Kelly, there are several different types of birthmarks; there are the brown birthmarks and there are the red or purple birthmarks, and the treatments really depends on the type. The brown birthmarks are actually moles and they can cause problems later on. So when they are removed, they need to be removed surgically, because you need to make sure that the whole area is removed, and you maybe saying if yours is larger, how is that possible. Often, we will remove a part of it and then let it heal, and then come back later, and remove another part of it until the whole area is gone. They don't all have to be removed and you need to see your dermatologist to make sure, but if you want it removed and it's brown, then surgical treatment is the best option.