A prevalence survey of pigmented and vascular birthmarks in 1000 newborns from the Northeast of Iran

Background: Birthmarks are common reasons for parents’ concern. Some of them may need further investigation to find out the underlying systemic disorders or their potential for malignant transformation. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of vascular and pigmented birthmarks in infants from the Northeast of Iran. Method: This descriptive study was conducted on 1000 healthy infants born in a University Hospital in the Northeast of Iran from 2003 to 2005. The cutaneous lesions of neonates were examined by a dermatologist. Result: The salmon patch was reported as the most common birthmark (233 cases). The most common site of involvement was the eyelid. A case of congenital hemangioma and a case of the port-wine stain were also observed both in the fifth nerve path. The most common pigmented birthmark was the Mongolian spot (171 cases). The congenital melanocytic nevus was seen in 50 cases. The lumbosacral area and trunk were reported as the most common sites of involvement for the Mongolian spot and congenital melanocytic nevus, respectively. Conclusion: Fortunately, the most common birthmark is the salmon patch that is evanescent. The congenital melanocytic nevus had a relatively high prevalence rate (5%) in comparison with other studies. Since the appearance of these lesions can concern parents and there is an increased risk of melanoma in the cases of congenital melanocytic nevi, follow up is needed in some cases; we recommend careful examination of the infant’s skin and training of physicians working in neonatal wards.