Genetic breakthrough means birthmarks could soon be eradicated Scientists find mutation that results in red or purple marks Breakthrough described as 'complete game changer' Condition could now be prevented in children Genetics: Birthmarks may become a thing of the past thanks to the efforts of researchers in the U.S. File picture Unsightly birthmarks that affect thousands of newborns each year could soon be eradicated. Scientists have found a genetic mutation which is responsible for port wine stain marks, and claim the discovery is a 'complete game changer' which they hope will lead to new preventative treatments. One in every 300 children born in Britain has the condition which results in red or purple marks on the body, most commonly on the neck or face. They are caused by the abnormal development of blood vessels in the skin, and the birthmark may become thicker, darken and develop a raised appearance in later years. A research team in the U.S. has now proved the condition occurs because of a gene mutation, which occurs after conception. Although laser treatment can lighten their appearance, the birthmarks are not curable. The genetic mutation discovered by researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore is also responsible for Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), a rare disorder that affects the eyes and brain, and is associated to port wine stain. The findings also confirm that both conditions are not inherited. 'This is a complete game changer for those with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) and the millions born with port-wine birthmarks,' said lead author, Dr Anne Comi, director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center. 'Now that we know the underlying genetic mutation responsible for both conditions, we're hopeful that we can move quickly towards targeted therapies, offering families the promise of new treatments for the first time.' The research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at the genetic make-up of skin samples from three individuals with SWS. Breakthrough: The genetic mutation discovered by researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore They were able to identify one mutation in the affected tissue, compared to healthy samples. Following the discovery, researchers will now begin to search for drugs that will selectively inhibit the mutation in a bid to prevent the condition. Co-author Dr Jonathan Pevsner said: 'This study presents a turning point for research on Sturge-Weber syndrome and port-wine birthmarks. 'While we suspected that a somatic mutation was the cause for decades now, the technology to test the theory didn't exist. The advancements in whole genome sequencing and the development of next-generation sequencing tools finally allowed my lab to test and prove the hypothesis. The team also discovered a link between the gene and a type of melanoma that occurs in the eye, raising hopes that a new method of treating it could also be uncovered.