as reuters reports , tributes from world leaders and notaries have come flooding in for the soviet president who ended the cold war without bloodshed and forged partnerships with the west to remove the iron curtain and bring about the reunification of germany. he unleashed a series of significant changes, but failed to prevent the collapse of the soviet union.
gorbachev also played a role in pop culture, becoming well known for the prominent birthmark on his forehead — known as a port-wine stain. according to the indian express , t he mark, which sat above his right eyebrow was featured prominently by cartoonists who drew him around the world, and although gorbachev never tried to conceal it, official portraits of him in the soviet union were sometimes retouched to hide it.
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the birth mark even inspired “ shape-cations ” — where travellers choose their vacation based on the shape of the location. in 2011, russian tour operators reported an increase in the number of rise trips to durak aprel , which, at the time, was a mostly unknown archipelago off the north-eastern siberian coast — a rise blamed on the fact that the group of islands resembled gorbachev’s birthmark, travel magazine liligo reported.
and although the brew seems to be no longer available, in 2017, some people were posting about enjoying a pint or two of “ fifty shades of gorbachev’s birthmark ,” by illinois’ hopvine brewing company.
this skin blemish, named for its red-wine colour, is present from birth and most often affects the face or arms, but can appear anywhere on the body, according to mount sinai health system .
port-wine stains are simple birthmarks and not a sign of any other health concern. in rare cases, though, port-wine stains on the face are accompanied by malformations of blood vessels in the brain. this is a serious condition known as sturge-weber syndrome that can cause mental delays, blindness strokes and seizures, says the cleveland clinic . estimates suggest that they occur in about three in every 1,000 people.
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deformity and increasing disfigurement can result, along with the development of glaucoma in people with port-wine stains on the eyelids, says mount sinai . there is also the potential for emotional stress and social problems related to appearance.
the stigma of having a disfiguring facial birthmark can lead to significant adverse psychosocial effects. while most studies have looked at the treatments for port-wine stains, a review of the literature on the psychological affects and quality of life for those affected, was published in 2021 in the journal clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology . researchers found that early treatment, psychological assistance and patient support are important to improve the quality of life of patients.
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in a positive light, social media has become a place of promotion for body positivity, with people proudly displaying what makes them unique — including their port-wine stains, glamour magazine says .
another young woman told good housekeeping magazine that after more than a decade of hiding her facial port-wine stain under a layer of foundation because of stares and bullying, she’s letting people see the real her.
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