From the Guidelines
Yes, salmon patches and stork bites typically fade away with time without requiring any treatment. According to the study published in Pediatrics in 2015 1, these lesions are present in up to 43% of the general population and are classified as low-risk cutaneous markers. Most salmon patches on the face, especially those on the eyelids, bridge of the nose, and forehead, usually disappear completely within the first year of life.
Key Points to Consider
- Stork bites, which are salmon patches located on the back of the neck, may persist into adulthood but often become less noticeable over time.
- These birthmarks are collections of dilated capillaries near the skin surface that appear as flat pink or red patches.
- They are completely harmless and occur in approximately 30-40% of newborns.
- The fading occurs naturally as the blood vessels mature and the skin thickens with age.
- No medical intervention, creams, or treatments are necessary for these benign vascular birthmarks, as stated in the study 1.
Important Considerations for Parents
- Parents should be reassured that these marks are not associated with any medical conditions and do not cause any symptoms or discomfort to the child.
- Nonmidline lesions as well as midline lesions that occur on the glabella, the lip (“angel kiss”) or the nape of the neck (“stork bite”) are not associated with underlying dysraphic malformations, according to the study 1.
From the Research
Fading of Salmon Patch or Stork Bite
- The salmon patch, also known as a stork bite, is a common birthmark that can fade with time 2.
- According to a study, most vascular birthmarks, including salmon patches, can be categorized as macular stains, which usually fade with time 2.
- Another study found that salmon patches tend to fade with time, and those on the glabellum, eyelids, nose, and upper lip are rarely detected after the age of 6 3.
- However, some cases of persistent salmon patches have been reported in adults, although these are rare 3.
- A study on medial telangiectatic nevus, also known as salmon patch or stork bite, found that it disappears in about 50 percent of patients during the first years of life 4.
Prevalence and Characteristics
- Salmon patches are present in approximately 44% of all neonates 3.
- A descriptive study found that 59% of newborn infants had salmon patches, with the most commonly affected sites being the nape of the neck and eyelids 5.
- The prevalence of salmon patch was associated with certain neonatal and maternal factors, such as full-term or post-term births, female sex, white ethnicity, and higher birth weight 5.