Many babies have what are called "birthmarks" when they're born. In some cases they may appear within the first few weeks of life. They can be brown, tan, blue, pink, or red. More than 10 in 100 babies have vascular birthmarks. These are made up of blood vessels bunched together in the skin. They can be flat or raised, pink, red or bluish discolorations. The exact causes are unknown. Most vascular birthmarks are not inherited, nor are they caused by anything that happens to the mother during pregnancy.
The port-wine stain is a type of vascular birthmark that occurs in 3 in 1,000 infants. It is sometimes called a nevus flammeus, or capillary hemangioma, but it should not be confused with a hemangioma.
Port-wine stains appear at birth. They are flat, pink, red or purplish discolorations, found most often on the face, neck, arms or legs. They can be any size. Unlike hemangiomas, port-wine stains grow only as the child grows. Over time, port-wine stains may become thick and develop small bumps or ridges. Port-wine stains do not go away by themselves. They last a lifetime.
Port-wine stains, especially those on the face, can have emotional, social, and economic complications. Port-wine stains on the forehead, eyelids or both sides of the face, can be associated with glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye that, left untreated, can cause blindness. These complications occur in less than one-fourth of those with port-wine stains of the forehead and eyelids. All infants with a port-wine stain in those areas should have a thorough eye and brain examination.
Occasionally, there may be very gradual enlargement of tissues surrounding a port-wine stain. All children with large port-wine stains involving an arm or leg should be followed for any growth problems.
The use of cover-up makeup has been a common treatment for port-wine stains. Various methods have been tried in the past to remove port-wine stains, but none have worked well. New types of lasers have shown the best results with the least amount of risk and side effects. Laser treatment of port-wine stains is FDA-approved, and available at many centers around the country.
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The laser produces an intense but gentle burst of light that selectively destroys the blood vessels of your port wine stains, without damaging the surrounding tissue. After laser treatment the surrounding tissue is left intact.
For best results, treatment should begin as early as possible, even in infancy. Laser surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Anesthesia is not required for most adults.
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Several treatments are usually required, given at two month intervals. Younger patients often require fewer treatments than adults. In about one-fourth of the patients, lasers can totally clear up the port-wine stain. Seventy percent will look much better. As laser technology advances, it is thought that in the very near future all patients with Port Wine Stain birthmarks will be treated to a complete resolution.
No anesthesia is required, patients experience minimal discomfort and this procedure is usually performed in the comfort of your doctor's office. Typically, you may resume normal activities and return to work immediately after your laser treatment. Should you be interested in this or should you have any other concerns or conditions please contact us and we will direct you to a doctor near you.