My daughter was born with a birthmark that covers her entire right foot and goes about halfway up her calf. It's just a shade or two darker than the rest of her skin the skin feels and looks thicker. It has spots on it that (are?) look like moles. When she was born, her foot had a few hairs on it but a few months ago the whole top of her foot and the front of her ankle grew a lot of hair. It looks like a mans leg.
I doesn't bother me a bit but someone had suggested to me to get one of those hair remover pads that you just rub gently on your skin and it removes the hair. I haven't done it 'cause I don't think I NEED to but I'm wondering if I should before she starts getting made fun of.She's only 1 1/2 right now. I don't want her to ever be ashamed of it and I don't know if making a point to remove the hair will make her feel bad about it. I also don't want her to be embarrassed about it either though!
What do y'all think?
I should've said this before! She has seen a dermatologist since she was born. She now only has to go every 6 months. They said it's a 'hamartoma' birthmark but when I google it, it looks nothing like the google images that come up. I've taken her to a 2nd dermatologist who just said it's a birthmark and never gave it a name but also said it was harmless and to keep following up every few months. The hair removal thing is like a little pad that slips on your finger and you rub it on whatever area you want to use it on. It just kinda gently buffs off the hair and doesn't have any chemicals or anything. (Just so y'all have all the info!) :o) (Also, I'm going to ask the dermatologist if it's even okay to use this on her before I do it but I just wanted y'alls opinion on it as far as doing it now to keep her from being embarassed or not doing it so that she won't think we are ashamed about it or that she should be!)
Thank you all for your answers! Her next appt with the dermatologist is in a month so I'll ask her if there is a safe way to remove the hair and get her opinion on whether or not I should do it now or not. I kind of agree with the fact that if I do it now, it just becomes routine and she won't think anything about it. My sister had one on her face and my parents let her decide if she wants it romoved and she did when she was about 9 or 10. (Removing my daughters is not an option since it is her whole foot and half of her leg.) I know y'all understand how hard it is to always know the right thing to do when it comes to our children! :o) Thanks again!
I'd see a dermatologist before I even thought about doing anything like that. If her skin is different there, and the are moles, then that's just not something I want to mess with and make worse.
Definitely see a dermatologist to find out what kind of birthmark it is and the risks associated with it.
On a personal note, my daughter was born with a large birthmark (nevus) on her face and, boy, did it it get hairy. It covered about a 1/3 of her face right up to her and part of her nose. We would trim it sometimes, but it would freak her out, until we found a small, quiet electric razor that didn't bother her much. She is now 8 and I've made it a point to periodically bring up the subject in order to check in with her and see how it is going.
If you start trimming back the hair now, she may start to view it as routine and not think much about it, or she may get annoyed with the whole experience. I definitely would not do a hair remover pad without seeing a doctor first, as the skin may be a lot more sensitive than normal skin.
Hugs to you. It can be quite overwhelming making these type of decisions for a little one, but feel free to pm me if you feel the need. Good luck.
Check with your dermatologist before you attempt any hair removal. It's not just a birthmark, there are what you say appear to be moles in it, a different story altogether.
please do not self-treat the foot. Shame on that other person who suggested you address the hair!
Always check with the dr before using any & all products on your child.
Also, please make sure the dr writes down the actual name of the condition so you will be better & fully-informed!
I would definately see a dermatologist about it. Most birth marks are harmless but the are some that come with complications. As large as it is, you need to know what to expect in the future and if needs special care.
Yes, do it. Whatever makes you and your daughter feel comfortable!!! As long as it's safe~
Are you talking about the pad in the commercials with the young ladies rubbing it over their legs with a big smile on their faces? I've heard (but never tried it myself) that it HURTS!!! I've heard that over time it hurts less, probably because your skin gets tougher. If you're at all curious, you could try it on your own legs. I would also talk to the dermatologist yourself, but personally I would try it on my own legs before making a decision.
Good luck!
I was born with a red birthmark on my leg, and doctors told my parents it would fade, but it never has! I wish they had gotten it removed when I was little, because I've been embarrassed about it my whole life. I still don't wear shorts or dresses because people always think it's a rash or scar and stare at it. If people are already noticing & saying things about your daughter's leg, then you can assume that her classmates and friends will notice & ask about it too. Also I've used those hair removal pads and they don't work. If you decide to remove the hair at home when she's a little older, try a cream for sensitive skin, Avon makes a good gentle one.
The best advice I can offer you is to NOT try this hair removal yourself. Check with your doctor. And if you are worried about her being embarrassed...well...maybe not now...but she will be in the future. A plastic surgeon can hook her right up. I've never heard of a birthmark on this yourg of child growing hair...does the birthmark have a specific name? Good luck.
