| The Laser Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks What are Vascular Birthmarks? Vascular birthmarks are red marks that appear on babies at birth or up to several weeks after birth. Although some vascular birthmarks may fade without medical intervention, others can still be present on adults. These birthmarks, usually on the face, are caused by blood vessels clustered together in the skin. Vascular birthmarks can be flat or raised, range in color from pink to red to purple, and range from barely noticeable to highly visible. Because vascular birthmarks most frequently appear on the face, they are often more than just physical ailments – they can also be psychologically traumatic. Fortunately, lasers can be used to successfully treat vascular birthmarks. Vascular birthmarks can easily be distinguished from other birthmarks, which are usually pigmented and appear as moles or freckles. The good news is that both vascular birthmarks and pigmented birthmarks can be successfully treated with lasers. This pamphlet focuses on the laser removal of vascular birthmarks. |
 |
| For more information on the laser removal of pigmented birthmarks, see our pamphlet entitled “The Laser Removal of Pigmented Skin Lesions”. The most common types of vascular birthmarks are macular stains, hemangiomas, and port wine stains. Macular stains are faint red marks usually found on the forehead, eyelids or the back of the neck. Some of these stains may disappear without treatment, however some may require laser treatment. If you have concerns regarding macular stains, consult with your dermatologist at the Advanced Cosmetic Laser & Surgery Center. Hemangiomas are blood vessel growths whos Color e deep color and raised appearance make them much more noticeable than macular stains. Hemangiomas usually are not present when a child is born, but start to develop within a few weeks of birth and continue to grow – sometimes rapidly – until the child is a year old. Hemangiomas are usually one of two types, either strawberry hemangiomas (bright red and raised) or cavernous hemangiomas (flatter and blue). Although hemangiomas may disappear without treatment, they are likely to be highly visible and unsightly for several years, and because they grow so rapidly, open sores can occur. Once again, it is important to consult a dermatologist, because lasers can be used to both prevent growth of hemangiomas and to remove them. Port Wine stains are, as the name implies, deep red stains (often appearing as a "splash" of color) that are not only unsightly, but have also been associated with health complications such as seizures and glaucoma. Because of these possible health problems, it is critically important to consult with a dermatologist about port wine stains. Before the advent of laser treatment for port wine stains, covering the stain with makeup was the only treatment available. But now state of the art lasers make it possible to dramatically improve the appearance of port wine stains. wine stains. |
 |
| Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks Vascular birthmarks respond well to laser treatment. The V-StarTM1 laser is the best laser available for the treatment of vascular birthmarks, and the V-Star laser is available in the entire Chicago area only at The Advanced Cosmetic Laser & Surgery Center in Joliet. Treatment of vascular birthmarks with the advanced-technology V-Star laser is gentle and almost painless, requires no down time, and produces superior results. The V-Star laser is a state of the art cutaneous laser that uses pulsed dye technology to gently and effectively treat skin problems on patients of all ages. |
 |
| Don’t Delay – Improve the Condition of Your Skin. The physicians at The Advanced Cosmetic Laser & Surgery Center are leaders in the field of laser surgery. The doctors and staff at the Center are anxious to serve you and happy to answer any of your questions. Call today to find out more about laser treatment of vascular birthmarks with state of the art lasers that are available only at the Center. Learn about these procedures and others by talking to your physician at The Advanced Cosmetic Laser and Surgery Center. |
 |
|
|
|
Naperville Office 1520 Bond Street • Naperville, IL 60563 • 630-357-7536
|
|
Joliet Office 2400 Glenwood Avenue • Joliet, IL 60435 • 815-741-4343
|
|
Morris Office 1600 West U.S. Route 6 • Morris, IL 60450 • 815-941-9500
|
|
Yorkville Office 88 West Countryside Pkwy • Yorkville, IL 60560 • 630-357-7536
|