Small port wine stain birthmark.*
Birthmarks come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Certain types are very rare, while one type occurs in nearly 50% of all infants. For some people, these congenital markings are celebrated as a representation of uniqueness and individuality. For others, they are nothing more than an embarrassing cosmetic disfigurement. The latter may be interested to know that there are various laser treatments for birthmark removal.
Laser Birthmark Removal for Pigmented Markings
Pigmented markings are generally categorized as being moles, café au lait spots, or Mongolian spots. Each of these manifests differently, but all are formed through an overgrowth of fibroblasts, fat, smooth muscle, or melanocytes. Perhaps the most unfavorable of these birthmarks is Mongolian spots, which can be quite large and noticeable, resembling the deep blue of a bruise.
With today’s technology, lasers have the ability to manipulate tissue structures at precisely determined levels beneath the skin. The Q-Switch laser specifically destroys melanocytes, which are a cause of pigmented birthmarks, particularly Mongolian spots. Forms of Q-Switch for birthmark removal include:
- -Ruby laser
- -Alexandrite laser
- -Nd: YAG laser
Laser Birthmark Removal for Vascular Markings
The second class of birthmarks is vascular, defined by some dysfunction of blood vessels. These include the angel’s kiss (or stork bite), the strawberry mark, or the port wine stain. Each of these is typically smooth and without texture, except for strawberry marks, which are technically a benign tumorous growth and are thus raised. This type of birthmark normally goes away on its own by age ten.
Pulsed dye lasers and the V-Beam Perfecta laser are effective at treating vascular birthmarks. Pulsed dye lasers work by shutting off selected blood vessels, which successfully relieves the appearance of port wine stains and, if needed, strawberry marks. The V-Beam Perfecta uses micro-pulse technology to gently heat the blood vessels and reduce their appearance. In addition to vascular birthmark removal, V-Beam also corrects broken capillaries, dilated facial veins, Rosacea, angiomas, sun spots, age spots, etc.