what's that on her face?!?!?: a lesson in infant dermatology

there isn't a day that goes by

that someone doesn't ask

"what's that on her face?"

a part of me wants to reply

"what on her face? i don't see anything"

then the nice person

the not rude person

wants to take the opportunity to educate

and inform

the questioning person 

of her birthmark

known as a hemangioma

hemangiomas

are birthmarks

that are more likely 

to occur in

caucasian

females

who are premature

hello emerson!

at birth they usually aren't visible

but about 2-4 weeks after birth they become apparent

which in her case

we thought it was from the tape of the ng tube

but within a week or so after that it became bigger

and a week after that even bigger

and today it's even bigger

(happy two months sweetie!!!)

but they

tell me this is normal

and that the birthmark will go away on its own

however

there are 

treatments

ranging from

beta blockers

laser surgery

and 

surgical removal

because her spot

is 

ulcerated

and

close to her eye

more than likely we will treat it 

we meet with the dermatologist

this week

to determine a treatment plan

but

her spot will

most likely

go away

with or without treatment

so there is your lesson in infant dermatology!

happy monday

and

happy 2 months to our sweet emmi!