Port-wine stain is one of the several types of birthmarks that appear on any parts of the human body. Apparently, birthmarks are the result when blood vessels are abnormally developed. There are marks that normally fade without treatment required while others need treatment. Many people believed that birthmarks are the result of any untoward deeds that the mother does during pregnancy. However, it is just a misconception because the main cause of birthmarks is when the blood vessels have inadequate nerve fibers.

This kind of birthmark is very common in newborn babies. Some have minimal patches while others have very extensive patches. Most likely it affects in girls and when not treated immediately would become permanent. The port-wine stain birthmarks are flat with purple or red color. Increased blood flow in the blood vessels would mean causing permanent blush. When the birthmark is left untreated the color may become darker and cause the tissue on the affected skin to enlarge and become bumpy. That is why it is important to be conscious, especially if the birthmarks appear near the eye and forehead.

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According to research, almost 80 percent of babies have birthmarks. This skin discoloration may endure for life while others fade as the child grows. There are two categories of birthmarks such as the vascular birthmarks and the pigmented birthmarks. The port-wine stains fall under the category of vascular birthmarks. This kind of birthmark is the result of accumulated blood vessels underneath the skin. Usually, the color ranges from pink to red depending on the location of the blood vessels.

The port wine stains look like pale pink and irregular in appearance. The skin discoloration happens when the blood vessels dilate causing the blood to accumulate in the affected skin area. This kind of skin discoloration does not fade with age and may cause social and emotional repercussions. Likewise, the port wine stains usually appear unilaterally not crossing the lower part of the body. That is why it is commonly visible on the face, upper eyelid and forehead.

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Help your child cope

A child who has a port wine stain is not different from any other normal child and that she should not suffer the burden of getting picked on in school just because she has this kind of birthmark. The good news about port wine stain is that it’s treatable and is not harmful to your child’s health.

Port wine stain is characterized by the marks of a maroon map like stains on the surface of the skin commonly present on the face, nape and even in the scalp. A person who has a port wine stain survives having this mark in their life time while others opt to get treatment to reduce its appearance.

Treatment of port wine stain come in various form that only your doctor can determine the safest and most effective way to treat your child.

• Seek medical help: In the event you see an abnormal color in your child’s skin, refer this to your doctor for proper diagnosis. Early detection can also mean successful treatment. Make sure to tell your doctor all the symptoms you see in your child and if there’s any abnormality on the affected area such as rashes and other form of irritation.
• Seek treatment: There are various ways to treat port wine stain and you are entitled to know all of these treatments. After going through it all, you can ask your doctor what’s the best treatment for your child and other alternative that can help reduce the appearance of the birthmark.
• Help your child: If your child is old enough to understand, assure her that there is nothing wrong with having a port wine stain and that she’s welcome to do any activities like a normal child. Make her also understand that port wine stain is not a disease that can affect her play mates.
• Know the basics: Educate yourself on the different ways you can take care of port wine stain. It is very important before, during and after treatment to make sure you tend properly on the birthmark and observe any deformation and infection associated in it.

Port wine stain are known to affect the child’s emotions because of its unique physical appearance and the way it is presented in her body, although most people get through with it, some children needs more encouragement than a simple reminder that it is normal and should not cause any fuss.

Port wine stains are normal birthmarks but with intensified color and located somewhere over the face or at the back of the neck. Although it is known fact that it has no effect on a person’s health, port wine stains can contribute on a person’s psychological status as this may affect him in more ways than one.

If your child is suffering from this type of skin deficiency, it is very important that you talk to them about the various things they need to know. Port wine stains cannot be cured but can be intensely treated so it could appear lighter if not invisible. If you wish to maintain their absence or light color, you may need to undergo lifetime treatment to avoid recurrence of the said skin discoloration.

When is port wine stain a threat?

Port wine stain are generally safe and can’t affect the health of a person. If treated and has maintain a low impact, there is really no need to cause panic and concern. However, if a port wine stain proves to be progressive and is located somewhere near the eyes, you need to have your doctor check this out. Progressive port wine stain is the intense discoloration of the skin that shows no deterioration in color, it becomes bumpy or swollen, color spreads too fast and if it becomes too dry and scaly.

When a port wine stain is located near the eyes, there is possibility that a child suffers glaucoma. It also pertains to affected eye sight and can lead to other eye infection. A doctor can diagnose a port wine stain by just looking at the skin but in some cases, and if symptoms appear to be different and intense, a skin biopsy is needed to get accurate diagnosis.

There are several ways in which you can treat a port wine stain. The cosmetic appearance of port wine stain in a person can greatly affect their emotional and social actions. While some are hardly bothered by this type of abnormality, others find ways and means to treat it any way possible. If your child had no problems dealing with it during their younger years, they are likely to come at peace with it when they grow older.

Laser treatment is the most common known treatment for port wine stains. It is safe and can be performed to infants 6 months old and above and has minimal effect on the skin except few irritations after the treatment. Home remedies can be done to get over the small pain its causing you.

Surgery is performed when there’s severe occurrence and proves to be more effective than laser treatment. Port wine stain treatment varies on the skin type, age of the patient and how severe the stain is. Always remember that port wine stains cannot be totally diminished, at any given time after any treatment, you may find some recurrences that requires you to undergo another treatment.

Port wine stains are dilated capillaries in the skin that is characterized by map – like skin discoloration of pink or sometimes dark purple. It is a birthmark that is present on babies at birth and becomes bigger as the child’s skin progresses and stretch. It is commonly seen on part of the face, the back of the neck and on the arms and legs. The diagnosis of port wine stain can be done by a doctor by just merely looking and at the skin and the history of the birthmark. In some but rare case, a skin biopsy is needed to properly diagnose the birthmark.

Port wine stain and birthmark removal:

Although birthmark removal is not common, most people undergo several treatment to remove the mark and solely for the better appearance of their physical representation. Port wine stains are normally safe and are treated as another case of birthmark; however there are those that prove to be a little different from a normal birthmark.

• When a port wine stain becomes inflamed or itchy, or you notice how it spreads faster than normal, you need to have your doctor check it. Unlike your normal skin, port wine stains can become scaly and dry that is why it is important to occasionally moisturize the affected area.
• Port wine stains are normally flat. If you notice other signs of abnormality do not experiment on putting anything that is chemical based on the affected area, see your doctor immediately.

Why laser treatment?

Laser treatment has proven to be the most effective because of its capability to destroy the affected capillaries on the skin. It is painless and can be performed with local anesthesia while the patient is awake. Laser treatment is safe on children but requires more treatment sessions. Laser treatment does not guarantee lifetime result, in fact some patients who have undergone laser treatment experience recurrence. It is advisable to do another series of treatment at the first sign of recurrence to prevent the birthmark’s appearance.

Port wine stain commonly known as birthmark is naturally safe and should not raise too much concern except on its effect on the child’s physical appearance. Birthmark removal can be done on several ways such as laser treatment, surgery, cosmetic and even tattooing. Laser treatment being the most common, there are also limitations on its effectiveness and rate of low scaring and occurrence. These include the age of the patient, the severity of the birthmark and the number of laser treatments the patient underwent. It is also noted that laser treatment is done on several sessions and not just one; this is to totally remove the taint on the skin and reduce its risk of recurrence.

Before you decide on any type of treatment, it is advisable to consult with your doctor. Your doctor knows what type of birthmark you have and the best possible treatment solution to it. Do not experiment especially when you’re not sure of the outcome.

Port wine stain is characterized by a splotch in the skin that presents a different color, size and shape. Port wine stain is a type of birth mark that appears mostly on the face, legs, arms and the back of the neck. Some hidden places where it could appear are scalp.

Who are qualified to undergo birthmark removal?

Although majority of birthmarks are considered plain stains on the skin, some of this can grow and present an even more severe symptoms. Port wine stains are normally flat and pinkish especially when the affected person is a baby. As the child grows, it can grow larger and deeper in color. People who are affected by port wine stain should only undergo birthmark removal when they feel it will affect their health and if they are so much bothered by its appearance. Otherwise birthmarks are generally safe.

Treatment of port wine stain:

• Cosmetic surgery: Cosmetic surgery is one way to treat port wine stain however, remember that this type of treatment will only help you improve how it looks and it does not aim to present perfection.
• Laser treatment: Laser treatment is the most common used treatment for port wine stains. Children can undergo laser treatment at a very young age so are the elderly people. Laser treatment requires the patient to undergo series of laser treatment sessions it does not also guarantee complete birthmark removal. Depending on the age of the person, the location of the birth mark and its severity, one can experience different result.

Deciding factor before treatment:

Before you decide on any treatment for port wine stain, it is important to consult this first with a registered surgeon. Here you will both have to discussed on certain topics such as why do you want to have the surgery, your desired outcome, what type of treatment you’re most comfortable with and how the procedure will done. These are some of the few questions your doctor might ask you.

How much pain is associated with birthmark removal?

Depending of what type of treatment you wish to have, the pain varies. Some are painful during the treatment while some hurt after the surgery. In any case anesthesia is induced to lessen the discomfort the patient is feeling.

Laser treatment is the most common treatment done these days and is acceptable even to children of young age. During treatment, localized anesthesia can be given to avoid possible pain and discomfort. It is also normal to feel a stinging pain after the treatment which can be relieved by a cold wash cloth.

After treatment, the affected area may prove to be darker than the normal color, this should go away in a span of 10 days or in rare cases it can go as long as 8 weeks for the discoloration to totally fade. It is very important not touch, scratch and tap the affected area to prevent infection and inflammation. Ask your doctor what you can put in it in case pain occurs after surgery.

A port-wine stain or naevus flammeus is a vascular birthmark consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin which produce a reddish to purplish discolouration of the skin. They are so called for their colour, resembling that of port wine. It is part of the family of disorders known as vascular malformations.

The two terms are not always equated. Sometimes the term “naevus flammeus” is divided into two categories: port-wine stain and salmon patch.

Port-wine stains are present at birth and persist throughout life. The area of skin affected grows in proportion to general growth. Port-wine stains occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. Early stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child matures, the color may deepen to a dark red or purplish colour. In adulthood, thickening of the lesion or the development of small lumps may occur.

PWS may be one of a group of symptoms and signs, in which case it is considered to be part of a syndrome such as Sturge-Weber syndrome or Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. All birthmarks should be evaluated by the health care provider during a routine examination.

Types

Nevus flammeus may be divided as follows:

• Nevus flammeus nuchae
• Midline nevus flammeus

Genetics

An association with RASA1 has been described.

Diagnosis

A physician can usually diagnose a port wine stain based entirely upon the history and appearance. In unusual cases, a skin biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Depending on the location of the birthmark and other associated symptoms, a physician may choose to order a measurement of intraocular pressure or X-ray of the skull.

Treatment

Many treatments have been tried for port-wine stains including freezing, surgery, radiation, and tattooing; port-wine stains can also be covered with cosmetics. Lasers have made the biggest impact on treatment, because they are the sole method of destroying the cutaneous capillaries without significant damage to the overlying skin.

The flashlamp pumped dye laser, a yellow light laser, has been the most successful at destroying stains in infants and young children. The neodymium YAG laser is used to treat the nodules that may develop in some adult port-wine stains.

Treatment of infants with the flashlamp pumped dye laser generally produces marked improvement in appearance.

However, complete disappearance is rare. In approximately 20% of cases there may be no improvement at all. Stains on the face respond better than those on the trunk or limbs. Older stains may be more difficult to treat.

Prognosis

In the absence of successful treatment, hypertrophy (increased tissue mass) of the stains may produce deformity, loss of function (especially near the eye or mouth), bleeding, and increasing disfigurement. These complications are usually seen later in life. If the PWS is on the face or other highly visible part of the body, the presence of PWS can also cause emotional and social problems for the affected person because of their cosmetic appearance.

Epidemiology

The incidence is 3-5 out of 1000 people.

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It is caused by the blood vessel’s lack of nerve fibers  that makes the skin discolor into something that looks like wine. This abnormal discoloration of the skin is mostly seen on the face and the back of the neck but can also spread on other parts of the body. 3 out of 1000 babies are infected by this skin abnormality. It is commonly rare and not fatal.

Port wine stains are normally not related to any other problems however, if you’re suffering from progressive birthmark it can cause bumps on the skin instead of the plain and flat map – like discoloration. It is also advisable to regularly check with your doctor if the birthmark is near or surrounding the eyes to prevent this from affecting your vision. There is no proven fact that your next child can get the same birth mark. In fact, port wine stain is not hereditary and can be acquired by any newly born baby.

Symptoms of port wine stain is of course the appearance of discolored part of the skin commonly found on the face, arms, thighs and the back of the neck. The color may vary from pink to red and even dark blue when the child becomes older. The appearance of port wine stain is there as soon as the child is born and will forever stay unless proper treatment is done. Early detection and treatment will lessen its risk of becoming progressive causing it to become darker in color and bumpy. When a port wine stain reaches this stage, there’s a possibility that it will be harder to treat it. The size of this birthmark can also vary and progresses as the child grows older. It will not remain on its normal size when the child was born, instead it will take up more as the skin stretches.

Early treatment on children should start at the age of 6 months. Although port wine stains are merely treatable, not all of it are successful as much as we want to. 80 percent of children who receive treatment can dramatically experience changes and intense diminished color, 10 percent will experience total absence of the stain and can live a normal life and the same percentage for those that don’t get any results or where treatment can’t be as effective. Laser has been the most common way of treating port wine stains and as been known to cause the least side effects. Anesthesia is only induced to relieve discomfort especially if you’re treating a child.

Laser has not only been the way of treating a port wine stain. A patient or the doctor can determine whether to go under laser treatment, surgery, freezing and even tattooing.

Home remedies after treatment may consist of putting ice packs or cold wash cloth on the area to relieve the skin from pain. If blistering or scaling appears, putting moisturizer will help or ask your doctor for specially designed ointments to help you relieve the skin.

Port wine stain is a capillary vascular malformation that is characterized by a pink or red stain on some part on the skin. This type of birthmark is commonly seen on the face, arms or legs but can also affect other parts of the body. Although not fatal, the psychological impact of having a port wine stain can leave a person shying away from the crowd because of their unique appearance.

Port wine stains usually develop on new born children and can either improve or vanish as they grow older. This birthmarks are caused by blood vessels that are not getting enough nerve fibers. When this happens, enough blood tends to flow at certain parts of the body causing it to get inflamed and produce a stain mark of pinkish red to dark purple.

Diagnosis of port wine stains can be done by just merely looking at the skin and its appearance. An ordinary port wine stain consists of flat discolored part of the skin however, a developing and severe symptom can cause a bumpy texture on the skin. When the lesion is located somewhere around the eyes make sure to have this checked by your doctor to prevent it from affecting the eyes and the nerves surrounding it.

Severe and unusual type of port wine stain may need a skin biopsy to assess and properly diagnose the skin discoloration.

Treatment of port wine stain:

Port wine stain cannot be prevented but it can be treated. The most popular and effective way to do it is through laser treatment. Pulsed – dye laser enables to lighten the birthmark dramatically without undergoing any major surgery. The success of a treatment vary depending on the age it started and location of the birthmark. During laser treatment, the patient is given topical or either local or general anesthesia to lessen discomfort.

After a laser treatment which requires you to undergo several sessions, you must observe any recurrence. At the first sign of recurrence, ask advice from your doctor whether to take another set of treatment which is commonly done. Children who goes through laser treatment at its early stage may get better results than those that started late. Developed port wine stain are sometimes darker than usual and on severe cases it shows a very nasty dark purple color.

Port wine stains cannot be prevented. It is also not caused by drinking wine during pregnancy or anything traumatic that happened during pregnancy. It is developed on infants with no clear reasons why.

Along with having a port wine stain is your child’s inability to become more active around their circle of friends because of their unusual physical appearance. As a parent, your responsibility is to help your child overcome his or her issues and be more open on discussions and questions your child may ask about his birthmark.

Over the years, older people become more and more acceptable of what they have rather than hating it, this is not the same for a child. A child can be very sensitive, make sure to let them know that having port wine stain doesn’t make them any different from other children.

Port wine stains also called as nevus flammeus is a birthmark that looks like a stain in the skin. This type of birthmark is often seen on the face but can also appear on other parts of the body. It is characterized by a deep purple map – like stain on the side of the face, arms and even legs. Port wine stain on infants appears to be less dark and normally spreads like a pink rash. As the child grows older, it can either develop to a darker color or get paler.

Treatment of port wine stain consists of laser, surgery and tattooing. Laser surgery being the most effective comes in different stages wherein the age and health concerns of the patient is given the most consideration. Some choose to conceal this with make up or tattoo art while others just leave it the way it is.

Some people choose to conceal port wine stains because of its psychological, social and emotional effect on them. People who can cope up with it just leave it the way it looks without trying to conceal it.

Port wine stain cannot be prevented. There haven’t been studies and medical inventions that can actually lead to the prevention of this type of birthmark.

Associated syndrome and other analytical observation can be given by a doctor to determine and confirm a port wine stain. In rare cases, a biopsy is needed. The severity of this birthmark depends on the age and location of the stain. The part of the face where the birthmark is commonly seen is the easiest to treat while those that are located on the legs, arms and other part of the body is more complicated.

Port wine stains are present at birth. Although it can get paler or fade after time, most of it develops to get darker in a purplish color.