Nowadays, there is such a stigma against having anything but clear, perfect skin. The skincare industry itself has peaked in recent years: I know about 30 people alone who own and consistently use the coveted gua sha or face roller. However, my entire life, I have grown up under the impression that my birthmark was perfectly normal. If anything, it made me special. It was something that was uniquely my own.
Despite my own self-assurance, I often received (and still receive) questions like “What happened there?” or “Are you okay?” when someone acknowledges the port wine stain birthmark that covers my right arm. For some reason, these questions never bothered me: I liked telling people about my birthmark. It is my own distinguishable feature that makes me feel special.
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. This small, seemingly insignificant mark must have some actual explanation behind it. Birthmarks themselves are actually an enigma. Scientists don’t fully understand their true cause. According to popular old wives’ tales, there actually are a lot of mythical stories related to beauty marks, both good and bad, that I further explored to truly grasp this large part of who I am. After all, who isn’t a fan of conspiracy?
Shape and color
When I was little, my dad used to tell me that my birthmark was just a bunch of angel kisses going up and down my arm because of its rosy color. However, in some cultures, birthmarks are seen as bad omens. In the time of the witch trials, most witches bore a birthmark, or what they believed was a mark of evil.
Birthmark shapes can also carry some meaning. For example, people with heart-shaped marks are destined to live a life of love and happiness with their soulmate(s).
Maternal impressions
This vague scientific theory suggests that if a woman experiences some sort of strong, continuous emotion throughout the duration of her pregnancy, then her baby may be born with a birthmark.
A more superstitious (and more exciting) alternative to this theory is the superstition surrounding pregnancy cravings. Apparently, if you have a food craving and you don’t fulfill that craving, then the child will be born with a beauty mark in the shape of that food.
Character traits
Specifically in Chinese culture, it is believed that the location of a birthmark on one’s body highlights different personality traits, like:
Stomach: You are likely a greedy, self-centered person who is very in tune with the materialistic side of life.
Back: You are honest and open-minded.
Legs: You are a very dependent, indecisive person that relies on others when making decisions.
Fingers: You are full of zest and independence, and you enjoy making your own decisions.
Hands: The right hand signifies prosperity and good fortune, while the left denotes poverty and lack thereof.
These legends make having a birthmark fun. Birthmarks should be embraced and loved. After all, they are rather fascinating, and they make you uniquely “you.” Birthmarks can’t just be skin deep. Do you think any of these myths are true?
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