Editor's Note

Welcome to our second special issue, fourth issue overall: Vascular Birthmark Awareness. Every year, 1 in 10 (10%) children born in the United States are born with a vascular birthmark. However, the exact rarity of these birthmarks depends on the specific type. There are three major types of vascular birthmarks (hemangiomas, port-wine stains, and salmon patches), and they’re caused by improperly formed blood vessels.

Due to the rarity of vascular birthmarks -- particularly those on the upper part of one’s face -- they’re often socially stigmatized. People with vascular birthmarks are generally subject to unsolicited or negative comments from other people. Because of the lack of awareness in society, there’s a lot of social and emotional weight that comes with such a beautiful condition.

As someone with a very visible port-wine stain on my own face, I have experienced firsthand what ignorance can do to such a striking phenomenon. I hope that this issue will bring more awareness to vascular birthmarks and reduce the stigma surrounding them. So please, turn the pages and experience the beauty of what makes us unique.

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Trigger Warning: This publication contains sensitive content, including, but not limited to,  trauma, self-harm, abuse, negative self-image, and more. Please be mindful of these and other triggers before continuing to the subsequent pages.