Coping with a birthmark whether it is your own, your child's, or another family member is not always easy. It can often be a long journey, with your own feelings and emotions to cope with as well as other people's reactions.

One of the most important things to recognise is that everyone will have different ways of coping with and accepting a birthmark, some individuals requiring more support than others. What we aim to do is provide a list of resources that cover different forms of advice and support for coping, hoping you can find something that's right for you.

Coping with people's reactions

One of the hardest aspects can be coping with the reactions of others. Staring and comments can be an unwanted intrusion in to what may already be a difficult time. Accepting that this is likely to happen and preparing for when it does can be one of the first steps to making it easier.

For example, consider how best to describe your or your child's birthmark in a way others should understand so you are ready to respond confidently if you are asked. This can often curb further questions, and reassure someone that there is nothing to be concerned about. One of our members created small cards that she could hand out if she wasn't feeling confident enough to explain herself. As well as including brief information about the birthmark, giving details of the Birthmark Support Group provides somewhere for them to go to find out more.


Making eye contact and greeting people with a smile lets people see you are confident and have nothing to be ashamed of. Although on the inside this may not be completely true all of the time, strangers don't need to know that!

Coping with your own birthmark

Accepting and learning to cope with your own birthmark is not always an easy road. From becoming aware sometime in childhood that there is something that makes you stand apart from others, to developing your own identity as a teenager and growing into adulthood there can be many challenges along the way. As well as the physical aspect of looking different, having a birthmark can also affect psychological health and this is often overlooked. Family and friends often provide key support, but some may need to explore other avenues to aid their own wellbeing.

Whether the support you require is information on camouflage make-up, details on how to seek medical treatment, or finding someone to help you work through the emotional aspects of having a birthmark, we can help you find what you need.

Coping as a parent

As a parent of a child with a birthmark the journey can start from the moment they are born or their birthmark is recognised. Coping with your own emotions as you accept there is something that makes your child a little bit different can be hard, and not something they teach you in pregnancy classes! There is then the process of getting a diagnosis, possibly followed by difficult decisions on what treatment to undergo or accepting the 'wait and see' approach, sometimes it is difficult to know the right answer. As your child grows the task is then to help them understand their birthmark and the challenges they may face.

Getting help

The Birthmark Support Group is here to help if you feel overwhelmed with the task at hand. We are here to talk to and can also direct you to resources that will help ease your journey. At the bottom of this page you will find links to some external sites that provide a good starting point.

Talking to others going through similar experiences can also be reassuring and help to know you are not alone. Our online community and our Facebook group are here to help you do just that.