VBF Day of Awareness – May 15, 2024

History of VBF Day of Awareness

Vascular birthmarks, also known as red birthmarks, are often a result of incorrectly formed blood vessels — these blood vessels often clump together in a particular area of the individual’s skin. Another type of vascular birthmark, hemangiomas, is the most common tumor found in infancy. About one in 10 newborns are born with vascular birthmarks. Throughout history, whenever a child was born with a vascular birthmark, its mother was blamed due to the belief that her emotions branded the fetus. It was only in the 19th century that this belief, rooted in folklore, began to die down.

Traditional medicine dictated letting birthmarks grow and regress on their own. More recent research suggested, however, that most lesions like these do not regress to a “cosmetically acceptable appearance” and will thus require corrective surgery of some sort. There has been a consequent push by medical professionals and researchers to leave old practices of neglect in the past and adopt a more proactive approach when dealing with vascular malformations.

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation was founded by Dr. Linda Rozell Shannon in 1994 after her daughter, Christine, was diagnosed with hemangioma. The following year, Dr. Milton Waner operated on Christine to remove the hemangioma. He later became the first Medical Director of V.B.F. The international charitable organization, to this day, brings together people affected by vascular birthmarks, anomalies, tumors, or syndrome and medical professionals.