Birth defects are structural anomalies present at birth, whereas birthmarks are cutaneous conditions that can be present at birth or manifest in the first weeks or months of life.1,2,3 Little is known about the etiology of birth defects and birthmarks; the main hypothesis is genetic, chromosomal, environmental, and multifactorial causes.4 Orofacial clefts represent two-thirds of the birth defects in the head and neck, and vascular malformations – one of the commonest causes of birthmarks – have a preference for the head and neck region.4,5 These birthmarks and birth defects in the head and neck region have a psychological aspect. Such areas are easily seen, and parents often fear that their child will suffer stigmatization during life.6

The idea of reincarnation has emerged among scientists as a hypothesis to explain several anomalous phenomena that other scientific methods have not fully clarified. Reincarnation theory has been proposed as a way of filling gaps in scientific knowledge concerning human personality and biology.7,8 However, reincarnation did not begin to be formally studied in psychical research/parapsychology until the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) encouraged Professor Ian Stevenson in his research and the publication of his first report addressing reincarnation happened in 19589. Whether human personality could survive bodily death was a major question that the SPR hoped to address.7,9,10

Professor Ian Stevenson, a pioneer and main researcher in this field, proposes that reincarnation could contribute to explaining human features, such as childhood phobias and philias, non-taught abilities, extreme nationalism, birthmarks, and birth defects, among others.7,8,11,12 Most investigated cases are from children between 2 and 6 years old.9,10,12, 13, 14 Several methods of investigation and validation of those cases were performed before their publication, such as interviews with the child, firsthand informants, and the family of the deceased person; independent verification of the statements; and access to hospital documents, birth and death certificates, and diaries.8, 9, 10,12,15

Professor Stevenson has also researched birth defects and birthmarks of children claiming to remember past lives. Stevenson noted that these lesions usually corresponded to the fatal lesion of the alleged previous personalities.8,9,13,14,16 He published remarkable books during his career17,18, providing a comprehensive overview of this subject. Contemporary researchers still study this subject.

In this systematic review, we describe the studies investigating head and neck lesions associated with past-life memories. We have compiled previously published information on subjects with head or neck birth defects or birthmarks, in which past-life memories were alleged.