port-wine-stains.jpg Port-wine colored birthmarks are caused by the overproduction of blood vessels under the skin that enlarge with age. This can affect a person psychologically and lead to a low self confidence. A popular laser treatment to erase port-wine colored birthmarks is the pulsed dye laser treatment. However recent research has found that the procedure may not be permanent. According to a study led by Dr. Menno Huikeshoven, a plastic surgery resident at Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, laser treatments may fade the mark but it can become visible again in a decade's time. The findings of this study have been published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

What are port-wine stains ?
a. This is a reddish-purple birthmark that is usually seen on the face.
b. This mark becomes more dark as a person ages.
c. Earlier, people used to treat it with freezing, radiation, tattooing and some even resorted to surgery which carried the risk of scarring.

Advantages of laser treatment for removing stains using pulsed dye laser
a. This is an absolutely safe procedure.
b. It does not lead to any scar formation.
c. It hardly has any side effects.
d. It is not a very painful procedure.
e. It does not damage the surrounding skin tissues.

Disadvantages
a. There is very less information and data available on this procedure.
b. Though this procedure can lighten the stain, in the long run it tends to reappear.
c. The efficacy of this procedure depends on the size and darkness of the stain.
d. It requires maintenance laser treatments for life.