In the United Kingdom, the parents of 18-month-old Honey-Rae Phillips have gotten tattoos on their legs to match their daughter's birthmark.
Honey-Rae was born with a strawberry rose birthmark that covers half of her body, so Tanya and Adam Phillips decided to get matching tattoos on their legs so Honey-Rae would not feel different, Mirror reported. Tanya said that from the moment her daughter was born, they have constantly showered her in kisses and love. However, when they were out shopping last summer, Honey-Rae adorned shorts and sandals, and some people whispered and stared at Honey-Rae's legs.
Tanya said that day helped her decide to get the tattoos done. For Christmas last year, Tanya paid 80 pounds for her husband to get a duplicate tattoo of their daughter's birthmark. The procedure took about two and a half hours, and the tattoo stretches across his right leg starting at his thigh and ending at his toe.
In return, Adam paid for Tanya to get the same tattoo done this past week for her 40th birthday, according to the Daily Mail. Tanya and Adam said they are satisfied with the tattoos because now their daughter will not feel different, alone or embarrassed by her birthmark. Honey-Rae even expresses happiness with the tattoos. She points at them and yells "match." The Phillips family lives in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Honey-Rae's birthmarks are medically known as haemangiomas, but are commonly referred to as strawberry birthmarks because of they seem to mimic the pattern and coloring of strawberries. These birthmarks are a cluster of blood vessels just under the skin that can vary in size, but most of them are harmless and do not require treatment.
Some types will fade away in time, while others are more permanent. Many can be removed with medicines, but others require laser treatment or plastic surgery.
