Every May 15th is observed as International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day. This day is a holiday that’s designed to support and celebrate people who have birthmarks. It’s also a day that attempts to educate the public about birthmarks and why we have them.

This is the perfect day for people who have birthmarks, or people who know someone who has a birthmark, to celebrate. What people should realize is that birthmarks are very common and about 1 in 10 people are born with a birthmark of some sort.

Most of these birthmarks are hereditary and harmless, but there are some congenital moles that increase a person’s risk of developing cancer when they’re older. Whether their birthmarks are benign or not can be determined by a doctor, and this holiday might be the perfect day for people to find out what category their birthmark falls into.

The History Of International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day

In 1994, The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation was founded by Dr. Linda Rozell Shannon. She founded this organization after her daughter was diagnosed with hemangioma — a bright red birthmark that either shows up at birth or within the first two weeks of life.

The following year, this hemangioma was removed by Dr. Milton Waner. This doctor would become the Medical Director of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation shortly thereafter. International Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day was invented by this organization not long after this organization’s formation.

Observing Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day

This is a day for people to learn more about their birthmarks and to seek the advice of a medical professional to make sure that their birthmark is benign. Once that’s determined, people can take the day to celebrate their birthmarks and raise awareness about birthmarks and the potential effect they can have on people.

Many people have been, or are currently, bullied for their birthmarks, so it’s important that this issue is brought to people’s attention so that it can be stopped. People can also spread the news about this holiday using the hashtag #VascularBirthmarksAwarenessDay on social media.