Port-wine Stain

Port-wine stains are vascular birth marks present in 0.5 percent of newborns. They are also called "capillary malformation" or "nevus flammeus". They are skin level marks in pink-red or purplish color that are present since birth. Although they can be observed on any part of the skin and mucosal surfaces, they are most common on the face. Their sizes vary, while they can be present in a very small area of the body, they can also take up half of the body. Port-wine stains grow proportionately with the child's growth. They can sometimes get darker in years and bulge out from the skin by slightly thickening. 


 

There may be accompanying syndromes

Although port-wine stains can be observed alone, without accompanying any disease, they can also occur as symptoms of some syndromes. The most common syndrome among these is Sturge-Weber Syndrome, which continues with port-wine stain present on eyelids and both sides of the face, together with eye and neurologic symptoms. In the event that there is port-wine stain in these areas, neurology and eye examinations and, if necessary, examinations with further diagnostic methods should be performed. 
 

Laser treatment

Another importance of port-wine stains are the problems of self-confidence and cosmetic disadvantages it causes on the child whose psychological development continues. Port-wine stains do not regress themselves and show life-time permanent characteristics, therefore they require treatment if they are located on broad and visible areas. Today, laser treatments that are considered as the golden standard are present in the treatment of vascular marks. The most commonly accepted one is pulsed dye laser. 
 

Happy results with early treatment

It is applied in 3-6 week intervals in many sessions under local or general anesthesia according to the size of the stain and provides results that put a smile on the patient's face with nearly full brightening. It is recommended to start the treatment as early as possible (from the 1st month) in order to prevent the child's psychological development be affected negatively and increase the success of the treatment.