Salmon patches in Caucasian children

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pediatrics
• Neonatology

Background:

• Salmon patches, also known as nevus simplex or nevus flammeus nuchae, are common benign vascular malformations observed in newborns.
• Their prevalence and typical involution patterns are well-documented, but specific age-related resolution data can vary.
• Understanding the natural history of these lesions is important for clinical management and parental reassurance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of salmon patches in a large cohort of Caucasian newborn infants and children.
• To determine the age at which salmon patches typically disappear in both males and females.
• To identify the most common anatomical locations for salmon patches.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving the examination of 808 Caucasian newborn term infants and 1575 Caucasian children.
• Systematic visual inspection for the presence of salmon patches.
• Recording of patient demographics (age, sex) and the location of observed patches.

Main Results:

• Salmon patches were present in 43.6% of males and 43.8% of females during the immediate neonatal period.
• The patches were no longer detected in boys after 6 years of age and in girls after 5 years of age.
• The most frequent sites for salmon patches were the nape, followed by the glabellum, eyelids, nose, and upper lip.

Conclusions:

• Salmon patches are highly prevalent in Caucasian newborns, affecting nearly half of infants regardless of sex.
• These common vascular malformations exhibit a clear pattern of spontaneous resolution, typically by early childhood.
• The nape is the predominant location, with other facial areas also frequently involved, aiding in clinical identification and prognosis.