Stuff You Should Know

Podbit · Stuff You Should Know

Selects: Birthmarks: Probably Not the Mark of the Devil

Explore episode Jun 20, 2026

Where this was said

Strawberry Marks (Hemangiomas) and the Blue Blood Myth

At 17:20 · chapter starts 16:00

Chuck and Josh tackle hemangiomas, the raised reddish 'strawberry marks' that alarm new parents but are usually benign. Only about 30% are visible at birth; most appear between 4–6 weeks and are gone by the time a child reaches double digits. Large ones near the eyes or ears can pose medical risks, and hemangiomas can extend internally to organs in rare cases. The discussion of why deeper hemangiomas look blue rather than red triggers a wonderfully entertaining detour: the hosts debunk the playground myth that deoxygenated blood is blue. Josh explains the actual physics — blue light reflects off shallow tissue while red light penetrates deeper and is absorbed — a fact Chuck swears he didn't know until that very morning.

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