The term "nevus" is used in medicine to mean a mole. By themselves, such formations are not at all dangerous. However, any formation on the skin should not be ignored, since there is a risk that a mole under certain circumstances can develop into a malignant formation.
According to statistics, 50% of newborn babies have spots on the forehead or other parts of the body. As a rule, they completely pass by two years, such a trend is observed in 80% of babies. If we are talking about such a manifestation as Unna's nevus, it is noticeable immediately after birth, but it can also appear by the 2nd - 4th month from birth.
general characteristics
This type of disease in the people has many names: “kiss of an angel”, “wine formation”, “fiery” or “flaming” nevus. In medicine, pathology is called capillary angiodysplasia.
Nevus Unna in a newborn is a multilayer network of small vessels that is not susceptible to inflammation and can remain for life. If this happens, then the formation will acquire a bluish color over time.
Nevus does not have any symptoms, does not cause discomfort, does not itch and does not rise above the epidermis, does not bleed. Such spots are not classified as benign or malignant neoplasms. They are formed on the upper layers of the epidermis, so no changes at the cellular level occur.
Causes
Most often, the appearance of Unna's nevus is associated with a genetic predisposition. Wine education is more common in babies with white skin, in premature babies, and in girls.
Some doctors are sure that the appearance of nevus is associated with fetal hypoxia during childbirth. Simply put, in the process of the fetus coming out, certain areas of the body or head exerted strong pressure, resulting in vascular paralysis and a mole.
Where is the spot located and what color
Nevus Unna in a newborn (photo below) is most often formed on the occipital part of the head, near the eyes and on the nose. The color of the formation may be pale pink or red. If the baby is crying, then usually the spot becomes brighter.
The spot formed on the forehead, usually have a brighter and more saturated color. If you press on the education, then it turns pale.
Nevus may appear on the body. But in this case, there is a big risk that it will not disappear with age. Quite often, the stain that appeared on the back of the head remains for life, but due to its specific location it remains invisible.
If by two or four years the stain does not disappear, there is a big risk that it will not disappear.
As you grow older, the formation grows in size and darkens.
Symptoms
A distinctive feature of Unna's nevus is that the color of the spot becomes more saturated if the baby cries. If during crying touch and slightly press on the formation, then it will brighten. As soon as the pressure disappears, the spot turns red again.
Apart from this particular symptom, the wine stain has no other symptoms. But then this symptom makes it possible to almost unmistakably establish a diagnosis.
Diagnostic measures
As a rule, you can establish the correct diagnosis by external signs. If a stain appears on the bridge of the nose or forehead, consultation with a neurologist is usually recommended. Very rarely, education can indicate some problems with the mental development of the baby.
On the other hand, the shape and size of the spot are in no way associated with the presence or absence of any pathologies. However, a full examination will make it possible to make the correct diagnosis and exclude the presence of more serious pathologies.
In any case, if there is a problem, then the child should be under constant medical supervision. You should always remember that any formation on the skin can be a symptom of an internal disease, therefore, it is necessary to determine the cause of its appearance without fail.
Spot as a symptom of genetic abnormalities
Rarely, but still, Unna's nevus can appear against the background of the manifestation of Sturge-Weber-Crabbe syndrome. The disease is characterized by the fact that along with the appearance of a spot, the motor function of that side of the face on which there is no formation is disturbed. The syndrome is referred to the most severe pathology requiring treatment, otherwise there is a risk of developing blindness.
Rubinstein-Teibi Syndrome. Pathology is characterized by the appearance of a wine stain, dementia, a violation of the proportions of the body and a small growth.
If Cobb syndrome is diagnosed, then an angel kiss forms along the spine. The disease is often accompanied by paralysis of the legs.
Klippel-Trenone-Weber syndrome is characterized by the formation of spots on the arms or legs. May be accompanied by varicose veins. Some patients with this diagnosis become real giants, their legs bend. In most cases, it is possible to cope with the problem only by surgical intervention.
Treatment methods
According to Dr. Komarovsky, Unna's nevus in a newborn has minimal clinical manifestations, but still requires timely medical intervention if there is no tendency to extinction.
If there is a regression, then doctors will not recommend any methods of getting rid of the stain. The extreme age at which the spot should disappear is 4 years.
In case of suspected hemangioma or if the kiss of an angel is located in a conspicuous place, for example, on the face, the following procedures may be recommended:
- cryodestruction;
- laser therapy.
Both methods do not imply the presence of scars and scars after the procedure.
Parents should remember that folk remedies with this type of nevus do not help. In extreme cases, the stain may become a little brighter, but you cannot completely get rid of it. Therefore, it is better to solve the problem once, so that the child does not have stress about the appearance.
Cryodestruction
This technique involves the treatment of Nevus Unna with liquid nitrogen. This is not such a popular procedure as laser. The essence of the technique lies in the fact that the spot is exposed to cold, in the end it disappears. If the kiss of an angel is large in size, then there is a risk that there will be scars in the beginning, but with time they dissolve.
Complete regeneration of the skin occurs in 2 months.
The procedure is the exact opposite of laser therapy. However, anesthesia in this case is not required, since the child does not feel pain from exposure to cold. The procedure of exposure to nitrogen is not popular for a simple reason - it requires a highly qualified doctor.
Laser therapy
This is the most popular method of getting rid of Unna's nevus on the back of the head, other parts of the body. It is less traumatic than the procedure with nitrogen. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.
Today, several types of laser are used. In the fight against nevus, the most effective laser is yellow and green. Radiations of these colors allow you to act on the capillaries without affecting the deeper parts of the skin. Worst of all, nevus can be eliminated under an infrared laser.
To completely eliminate the stain, 3 to 5 procedures will be required, of course, that in each particular case the number of sessions is determined individually. Restoration of the skin occurs within 2 to 3 months from the last session.
During this period, parents need to carefully monitor the baby so that he does not comb the stain, treat it with herbal infusions and antiseptic agents, that is, follow all the doctor's recommendations. In no case should alcohol-containing substances be used for the treated areas of the skin during the recovery period.
Possible future problems
First of all, Unna's nevus in adults is the cause of psychological discomfort. Formations that have formed on the arms or legs will thicken over time and can cause joint diseases.
An angel kiss on the cheek is a risk of problems with chewing food and, as a result, problems in the digestive tract.