Port Wine Stain
Treatment

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, we offer complete laser treatments for infants, children, and adults with port wine stains. Laser therapy is the most effective solution for reducing discoloration from port wine stains. In most instances, Jordan V. Wang, MD, MBE, MBA and his team of board-certified dermatologists perform a number of laser treatment sessions to improve port wine stains.

How successful treatment is often depends on the location and extent of the lesion. Since port wine stains tend to darken and thicken over time, sometimes resulting in sudden bleeding, we recommend treatment as early as possible. We treat port-wine stains with a careful selection of lasers and routinely work with infants and toddlers.

The physicians at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania are experts in the treatment of port wine stains. Dr. Wang completed his cosmetic and dermatologic surgery fellowship training at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York in Manhattan under renowned dermatologist Roy G. Geronemus, MD, who is on the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation’s board of directors and has contributed to numerous studies on the treatment of port wine stains.

With specialized training, Dr. Wang and his team are uniquely qualified to treat even the most advanced port wine stains at our 8,000+ sq. ft. dermatology center in the greater Philadelphia area on the Main Line in Devon. 

Port wine stains are common birthmarks that can be blue, purple, pink, or red in color. While the vast majority of these birthmarks are harmless, they can point to an underlying condition, such as Sturge-Weber syndrome. In most instances, port wine stains are treated for cosmetic purposes. However, lesions can continue to grow and may even bleed and scab without receiving any treatment.

Port wine stains develop when the area’s capillaries dilate excessively. Although capillaries are extremely small blood vessels, they can accumulate enough blood to discolor the skin’s surface. Most port wine stains start out pink in color, but over time, they can darken and turn red or purple.

Although port wine stains can form anywhere on the body, they’re most frequently found on the face, scalp, neck, arms, and legs. Port wine stains rarely signify an underlying medical condition, but adults with birthmarks, as well as parents of children with port wine stains, often seek cosmetic treatment.

Pulsed dye lasers operate at particular wavelengths of light that allow these devices to destroy unwanted blood vessels without damaging the surrounding healthy skin. Each treatment with our state-of-the-art lasers gradually lightens and improves the appearance of port wine stains until it no longer exists.

Depending on the size and location of the port wine stain and the age of the patient, our board-certified dermatologists can perform laser therapy with a topical anesthetic, local anesthesia, or no anesthesia at all. We always recommend starting treatment early, during infancy or early childhood, for the most successful results.

In most instances, patients need multiple laser treatments to greatly improve port wine stains. However, complete elimination isn’t always feasible, especially if the birthmark is very large, thick, and dark to begin with.

All laser treatments require intervals of about 2-4 weeks in between sessions to promote healing. How many treatments a patient needs depends on many different factors, including their age, appearance, and location.

Dr. Geronemus and the physicians at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York participated in the development of nearly all laser devices currently used to treat birthmarks. Due to his close training with experts, such as Dr. Geronemus, Dr. Wang with his team have the skill and experience needed to effectively treat port wine stains in patients of all ages.

Laser treatment for port wine stains shouldn’t feel intolerable. In most instances, patients report feeling as if a rubber band is snapping against their skin. Many patients don’t even need anesthetics during treatment. For those who do, our dermatologists offer a number of topical and local anesthetics to ensure the treatment is comfortable.

It’s highly common for birthmarks to darken initially after laser treatment, so your port wine stain may appear purple at first. However, after 7-14 days, this discoloration should begin to lighten and fade. During this time, you may also experience redness, itching, and scabbing while your skin heals.

Swelling often affects patients with birthmarks near the eyes or upper cheeks. You can help reduce inflammation and improve comfort by elevating your head and applying ice to the treatment area.

Click here to learn more about Port Wine Stains.

Publications

“Cost Savings of In-Office Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Port-Wine Birthmarks Without General Anesthesia.” Dermatologic Surgery. 2021 Apr 30.