Q: I have a newborn son and he has recently developed a red birthmark on his back, which I have been told by my health visitor is a 'strawberry'. But my mother is telling me I should have it removed as it may be causing him pain, but I don't think that's true as it doesn't seem to bother him! Is this anything to worry about? I am a bit concerned I have misunderstood.

A: Birthmarks on babies are very common and, as with your son, normally develop a few weeks after birth. The good news is, in the overwhelming majority of cases, a birth mark is a harmless feature of your baby's skin that will fade on its own.

More specifically, a strawberry birthmark (or haemangioma) is an area of the skin that is attached as normal to the circulatory system. However, due to an abnormality in the way the blood vessels form under the surface of this particular piece of skin, a red raised bump will appear – the 'strawberry'.

It is also a common condition - strawberries affect around one in 20 babies, and are more common in girls. These birthmarks reach their full size by around three months of age, after which time it is likely to settle and begin the process of shrinking and fading. However, this is a slow process, and can take up until your son's fifth birthday to completely disappear. Rest assured though that your son is extremely unlikely to be in any pain from his strawberry – he will make it clear if he is! Additionally, seeking removal of the birthmark is unnecessary at this stage. In the vast majority of cases, approximately 80 per cent, the strawberry will disappear by itself.

Of course there are some exceptions, but this is normally when the strawberry is located somewhere critical, such as on the eyelid or close to an eye. In these cases, strawberries can cause visual problems, and medical intervention would be necessary. In extremely rare circumstances, a strawberry can be a sign of other underlying conditions.

You can of course talk to your GP if any aspect of your son's strawberry is causing you concern, but if your health visitor is satisfied that this is a benign birthmark, then you are right to listen to her advice and not worry about this too much.

So for now, keep an eye on this unique little feature of your son's body and consult your doctor or health visitor if there are any significant changes.

Does your child have a birthmark? Is it something you're worried about?