Los Angeles birthmark removal results can be achieved with lasers

Birthmarks can occur on the skin at birth. Or they can develop during the first month. Although they are usually benign, many people choose to have them removed if they have a negative effect on the appearance.

Birthmarks can be caused by pigmentation or vascular issues. They also manifest as different colors such as:

1)      Red

2)      Purple

3)      Pink

4)      White

5)      Tan

6)      Black

7)      Pale blue

Los Angeles patients who are interested in achieving excellent birthmark removal results may want to research laser applications.

Lasers are non invasive since they are able to use energy to make very precise changes in tissue. They can get rid of unwanted blood vessels and pigment below the skin’s surface. Most people will experience a significant improvement or the complete removal of their birthmarks.

DERMATOLOGY

Birthmarks are caused by an overgrowth of different types of tissue such as:

1)      Fibroblasts

2)      Melanocytes

3)      Blood vessels

4)      Smooth muscles

5)      Fat

Pigmented Birthmarks

The main types of pigmented birthmarks include:

1)      Moles

2)      Mongolian spots

3)      Café au lait spots

Moles (congenital melanocyte nevus) are caused when melanocytes (melanin producing cells) cluster together. In those with darker skin tones, moles are often dark brown or black. Individuals with lighter skin tones have moles of a lighter brown shade. Los Angeles patients who are eager to achieve complete birthmark removal results should speak to a dermatologist about using lasers to get rid of their moles.

Mongolian Spots have a bluish color. They are a congenital condition, existing at birth and continue to develop during the first month of infancy. This type of birthmark occurs in East Asians, Turks, Native Americans and East Africans. They also occur as a result of melanocytes being concentrated together. This occurs as cells migrate during the embryonic development.

Café Au Lait spots appear as the name suggests. They are very light in color. In some children, they are present at birth. In others, they appear at some point during the early childhood years.  This type of birthmark does not fade over time. Parents in Los Angeles should consider medical birthmark removal results if they notice four or more of these spots. These signs may indicate a genetic condition known as neurofibromatosis. This is caused by the formation of skin surface tumors which develop from nerve tissue.

Vascular Birthmarks

Vascular birthmarks are red in color due to the aggregation of blood vessels.

1) Stork Bite

Stork bites are also known as nevus flammeus nuchae, angel’s kiss or salmon bite.

They are  flat vascular birthmarks which appear irregular in shape. In terms of color, they are tan or pink. Almost half of all infants have this type of birthmark. Generally, it is seen on the back of the neck, on the forehead, knee, top lip or eyelids.

 2) Strawberry Mark

Of all the tumors that occur in infants, strawberry marks are the most common. They result from the overgrowth of endothelial cells which line the blood vessels.

Strawberry marks emerge during the first few weeks of birth.  Los Angeles parents may not need to seek the help of a doctor for birthmark removal results . They usually disappear on their own by the age of ten.

3) Port Wine Stain

The Port Wine stain also bears a very descriptive name. It looks looks like an irregularly shaped wine stain.  It is caused by the pooling of blood which occurs from a shortage of nerves that connect to the blood vessels beneath the skin

PROCEDURES

Los Angeles patients who are interested in achieving reliable birthmark removal results should educate themselves on laser procedures that can be performed.

Instead of using invasive surgical tools, lasers can create very precise changes in tissue structures to get rid of unwanted pigments or blood vessels responsible for the birthmarks.

Here are the most common types of lasers used for getting rid of birthmarks:

1)      Pulsed Dye Lasers

Pulsed dye lasers can be used to treat Port Wine stains. They can be used selectively to clear away specific blood vessels without affecting irrelevant areas of tissue

2)      Q-Switched Lasers

Q-Switched lasers rapidly switch the laser beam on and off.  Birthmark removal results are achieved by destroying the melanocytes that cause the unwanted pigmentation to occur.  One example is the Vbeam laser which uses the 595nm wavelength to get rid of unwanted blood vessels. It is first absorbed by oxygenated hemoglobin. And then it will work to seal off the blood vessels with heat. This tissue is then broken down and carried away by the lymphatic system.

Other forms of Q-Switched lasers include:

1)      Ruby laser

2)      Alexandrite laser

Los Angeles Fraxel lasers for Pigmented Birthmark Removal Results

Fraxel lasers are able to cause deliberate damage to the melanocytes which produce the melanin that is responsible for causing pigmented birthmarks. Once these cells and the pigment are destroyed, the remains are carried away by the body’s own waste removal system.

Los Angeles Birthmark Removal Results– FAQ

Can laser treatments be performed on children?

Yes, laser treatments can be performed on children. These procedures would require a different set of settings compared to an adult.

How many treatments will be needed to get rid of a  birthmark?

The number of sessions will differ across individuals, since birthmarks can occur in different sizes But generally it will take about 3-6 treatments for a pigmented birthmark and 8-12 treatments for a vascular birthmark.

How much do birthmark removal procedures cost?

The average cost of a birthmark removal procedure is about $1000.

Are there cases where insurance will cover the cost of removing a birthmark?

Most birthmark removal procedures are performed for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, insurance companies will not cover the cost. However, one exception is if the birthmark is related to a cancerous condition.

Birthmark Removal Results for Los Angeles Patients- Lasers Versus IPL

In addition to lasers, patients often hear about the use of IPL to get rid of their birthmarks. So, it is natural to wonder which one is better.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. Many people confuse this with lasers. However the two technologies are not the same. Intense Pulsed Light uses many different types of wavelengths. As a result, they are very general in their scope of treatment. Therefore, the anticipated outcome is not as predictable as a laser.

All laser systems rely on a single wavelength to perform a specific function. This is how they are able to treat very precise areas of tissue without affecting other regions.

Los Angeles birthmark removal patients will certainly benefit by learning about different treatment options and how they work.