Vascular lesions are common abnormalities of the skin’s underlying tissues and are known as birthmarks or may develop during childhood. They are located on the face, neck, head, or another part of your body that are difficult to conceal if rich in colour and dramatic contrast with the skin’s natural tone.
Types of Vascular Lesions
- Haemangioma: are common and benign. These vascular lesions appear as bright red outward growth on the surface of your skin and stop growing at 6-12 months. Often shrinks in size and fades in colour over time, but there are chances of leaving permanent scarring.
- Vascular Malformation: this appears when a group of congenital errors in the formation of vessels. Common vascular malformations are capillary, venous, lymphatic, and arteriovenous malformations.
- Capillary Malformation: known as birthmarks, stork bites, port wine, or salmon patches. They are blotches of discolouration on the surface of the skin. They may appear at birth as flat pink areas of skin discolouration and will turn darker to deep purple over time.
- Venous Malformation: consists of collections of vessels, present at birth but appear unnoticeable until they grow and look like soft masses underneath the skin's surface.
- Lymphatic Malformation: similar to venous Malformation, which occurs when there is an abnormal collection of vessels. It appears as a cyst beneath your skin (often at the mouth area) and can cause problems such as weepy and pain.
- Arteriovenous Malformation: they are rare and located in your head or neck. Usually, go unnoticed or undiagnosed until complications arise, such as headaches, strokes, or hemorrhages. They grow in size and present a risk to your health.
- Pyogenic Granuloma: It is fast-growing, formed in response to local tissue injury, and it bleeds easily. It appears rapidly red, swollen, and unhealthy. Commonly found in children or pregnant women.
It is important to get diagnosed and investigated by a professional doctor prior to treatment or removal.