Vascular Birthmarks
Vascular Birthmarks
What Is It?
Vascular birthmarks are red, blue or purple colored vascular (blood vessel) skin markings that are present in the skin. A baby can develop birthmarks either before being born or soon after. Vascular birthmarks are made up of many blood vessels grouped together in one place in the skin.
The most common types of vascular birthmarks are:
Macular Stains
These are the most common type of vascular birthmarks. They are small, flat, blood vessels(capillaries) found on the upper forehead, eyelids, lip and between the eyebrows. These stains often fade in time as the infant grows. Colors can range from light pink to mild red and usually last into adulthood. They aren't harmful and are generally hidden in the hairline.
Hemangiomas
These are benign protruding growths composed of small blood vessels. They are divided into three types: strawberry hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma and cherry hemangioma.
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Strawberry hemangiomas are bright red, slightly raised with a roughened texture on the skin's surface. These blood vessels are bunched together and resemble a strawberry and can be found anywhere on the body.
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Cavernous hemangiomas are dome-shaped that reside deep beneath the skin and have a bluish red color. These will turn white, slowly shrink and flatten. Most cavernous hemangiomas disappear by the time the child reaches school age.
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Cherry hemangiomas are small, dome-shaped protrusions on the skin. They appear in mid-to-late adulthood and are extremely common. Usually several lesions are found on the trunk and range in color from red to purple. Once acquired, cherry hemangiomas remain throughout life.
Port-Wine Stains
These are flat, purplish-red to dark red skin discolorations. They are almost always found on the face but can also appear on the neck, arms or legs. Size varies from very small to over half of the body's surface. Port-wine stains grow as the child grows. They can last a lifetime often causing psychological and social distress.
What Causes It?
The cause of vascular birthmarks is unknown. They are usually harmless, painless and have no effect on your general health.
What Can Be Done?
Many vascular birthmarks are temporary and require no treatment.
Intensed Pulse Light (IPL) treatments are more effective procedures used to destroy unwanted birthmarks such as port wine stains and strawberry hemangiomas. These laser and intense pulsed light treatments are non-invasive, however, you may feel a slight pinch similar to the snap of a rubber band. Some short-term side effects can include slight reddening of the skin or local swelling which goes away within a few hours.
The CoolTouch Varia™ has shown benefit in the treatment of vascular lesions such as strawberry and cherry hemangiomas. This non-ablative laser system emits laser light to coagulate vascular abnormalities, followed by a cryogen cooling called Thermal Quenching™ for the highest level of patient comfort. Thermal Quenching cools and protects the top layers of the skin.
