My twelve year old

When my daughter was born we noticed a red mark under her right nipple. As she grew this mark grew as well. The doctor told us that it was a raised strawberry birthmark and that we could only remove it when she is twelve years old (when it stopped growing). Well now she is twelve years old and the thought of showing her chest to a doctor is out of the question. She is well endowed for her age and is embarrassed to show anyone her birthmark. I feel bad for her because she hates her birthmark and says it looks ugly but modesty is stopping her from showing anyone. Were the doctors correct did we have to wait until it stopped growing or could we have removed it earlier?

[hankbartenbach]

Hi Filomena,

My name is Hank, I started laser treatment when I was five years old. I am now 22. I think the doctor you saw might not have known what he or she was talking about. I strongly suggest finding a doctor that knows what they are doing. If you go to the left of this page, under resources click on find a physician and then find go to your state or one close to you and have your daughter checked out. She might be more comfortable with a female doctor.
The only reason I could think why the doctor said that is because around your daughters age puberty sets in.

After puberty when I stoped growing so did my birthmarks.

I hope this all helped and email me back if you have any other questions.

Hank.

[nickbar]

Dr. Waner says "never look back". it should have stopped growing at age 1 year 18 months. Can you describe what changes it went through? Color? etc.

I can understand your daughter's fear...its never an easy thing to do. Finding a doctor she feels more comfortable with might be hard. I guess it comes down to how badly does she want it gone?

Good luck.

Corinne

[nickbar]

Elissa is a great resource (she is currently unable to log and respond to you as she is traveling home from NY...but she wants you to email her. her daughter is 14 and had a h. on her nose.)

Her email is Psyelectro@aol.com

Good luck

Corinne

[eprmo]

Hi, I am Elissa,,I remembered my password, finally,,,, My daughter just had surgery , and we are "RECOUPERATING", AWAY FROM HOME. Jaci is almost 15, and for years did not want to talk about her H. It is a very sensitive subject for her, as I suppose for yuor daughter as well.

When your daughter was born, like mine, thoughts and attitudes were different about H's.. We too, waited and waited for it to go away. Needless to say,,,it didn't.

I needed to PUSH my daughter into all treatment,,, she was "turned off" to discussions, because she lived with the promise,,"it'll go away".

I would not feel bad about your choice about waiting,,because you belived what was told. If your daughter wants to talk to mine,,or anything else she needs,..just let me know.

Between myself, and my daughter, I understand how you both feel.

Elissa,

I have a 7 year old daughter with a large hemangioma on the left side of her chest. It was the size of an eraser tip at birth and grew quickly. Every doctor said it would "go away". About 3 years ago, we discovered Dr. Waner. He looked at pictures of her -H- and said it would be best to wait until after puberty to do anything because the -H- goes around the nipple. Any laser treatment or surgery could damage breast tissue and affect her development. We saw Dr. Hollier (pediatric plastic surgeon) in our area (Houston). His recommendation was the same as Dr. Waner's. As she gets older, it affects her more and more. Have any doctors said anything about waiting until after puberty to you?

[eprmo]

I just read this response,,sorry it took months to get back to you..

Puberty was not an issue for my daughter's nose H.... although, the shape of her nose grew and changed,,was that due to puberty or H...we'll never know....but in any case..we are seeing specialists for reconstrction of her nose..because whatever the cause ,,it needs alittle more work.

Elissa