Duration
In most cases, stork bites are spontaneously reduced within the first three years of life. The initially bright red skin change fades increasingly. By the sixth year of life, the stork bite has finally disappeared completely in most cases. In rare cases, however, the stork bite shows no signs of regression and remains. In such cases a medical removal of the skin appearance can be attempted.
Different locations of the stork bite
Stork bites very often occur in the facial area and therefore also on the forehead. As with other localizations of this skin change, the stork bite on the forehead usually recedes on its own within the first years of life. Since permanent stork bites in the facial area in particular are often perceived as cosmetically disturbing, removal of the stain can be considered if there is no tendency for regression.
Stork bites can also occur on the eyelid. In the case of stork bites on the eyelid it is important to distinguish them from the common port-wine stain (naevus flammeus). This occurs especially when localized on the eyelid in some cases in connection with further malformations.
One clinical picture that comes into question here is the Sturge Weber syndrome. In addition to the port-wine stain on the face and eyelid, affected children also show dilation of the blood vessels in the choroid of the eye and in the central nervous system. As a result, they develop seizures and, in many cases, mental impairment.
The seizures must be treated urgently, as the mental development of the child depends on them. Stork bites on the baby’s nose can also occur. Although this location is less frequent than the classic stork bite in the neck, it does occur.
Just like other parts of the body, the stork bite on the nose usually recedes within the first years of life. Alternatively, if it persists, it can be removed by a doctor for cosmetic reasons. The most common location of the stork bite is at the back of the head or in the neck area.
This preferred body location gives the skin change its name, because it looks as if the stork has grabbed the baby by the neck and brought it to its parents. The stork bite at the back of the head disappears, just like stork bites from other parts of the body, mostly within the first years of life. In addition, it is increasingly covered by the progressive growth of the head hair, so that it causes fewer cosmetic problems than, for example, stork bites in the facial area.
A medical removal is therefore much less often necessary. Stork bites can also be found on the back of newborn children. Especially if the stork bite is exactly in line with the spine, the spine should be examined for correct development.
Under certain circumstances, skin changes on this line can indicate incorrect formation of vertebral arches (e.g. spina bifida) and/or spinal cord. The same applies to tufts of hair or moles that are located at the level of the spine. In most cases, however, stork bites on the back are just as harmless as stork bites on other parts of the body and usually disappear completely within the first years of life.
The legs of the child can also be affected by a stork bite. In this case, just as with alleged stork bites on the eyelid, a port-wine stain (naevus flammeus) must be considered for differential diagnosis. If it develops on one leg, this can indicate the so-called Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.
The child also has impaired venous valves and thus varicose veins as well as changes in capillaries and lymph vessels. This can result in the giant growth of the affected extremity. Stork bites on the leg are harmless in most cases and, just like stork bites on other parts of the body, usually disappear completely within the first years of life.
