Birthmark removal offers a solution for individuals seeking to remove birthmarks from their body, which developed at birth or shortly afterward. Birthmarks can be removed for cosmetic reasons, or to reduce the possibility of health risks from occurring. (Most birthmarks fall into two categories: portwine birthmarks and coffee-and-cream birthmarks.)

The method used for removal, including laser surgery or surgical excision, depends on the type of birthmark, the severity of its condition, location, and whether it causes symptoms, pain, or disfigurement. Still, lasers are a common treatment for this procedure. It can lighten specific areas of the skin in order to even out a patient’s skin tone, making the birthmark less noticeable. As the laser penetrates the surface of the skin, it lightens the darkened areas. In many coffee-and-cream birthmark cases, laser treatment can help to eliminate the mark altogether. It usually takes multiple treatments to remove most portwine stains and hemangiomas (“strawberry marks”), because the laser only penetrates a small distance into the skin.