Port wine stains, spider naevi, venous malformations and cherry angiomata are all skin lesions that have a larger number and/or size of blood vessels.
The Pulsed Dye Laser selectively targets specific blood vessels. These blood vessels are coagulated or “damaged” and then reabsorbed by the body during the natural healing process. The sensation is a very short sting, the intensity varying with the sensitivity of the site.
The area treated will look slightly blushed immediately after treatment. Usually areas will look slightly grey-tinged or superficially bruised after treatment. Occasionally some people have a mild crusting on the skin which usually flakes off in a few days. Redness and swelling in the treated area will usually last a few days to a week depending on the size and location of the birthmark. Further treatments can be performed six weeks after the original treatment. Lower body port wine stains respond less than those on the upper body.
Some birthmarks may require the application of a topical anaesthetic cream to be applied prior to treatment.
Venous malformations are treated using light and radiofrequency. Blue blebs on lips (venous lakes) and other malformations may respond well to one or more sessions, depending on their size. Occasionally, a popping noise is heard during treatment.