Don’t be intimidated by the “laser” aspect, this procedure is extremely safe and so gentle on the skin that it can be used on a baby’s face.
The pulsed dye laser is a quick office procedure with little to no discomfort and essentially zero down time.
In this post, we will look at some of the conditions that the pulsed dye laser can treat:
Vascular Disorder
The wave length of the pulsed dye laser is selectively absorbed by the hemoglobin blood vessels, so is especially effective in treating cutaneous vascular lesions. Some vascular lesions resolve immediately upon treatment. Others gradually fade away several weeks after treatment. However, depending upon the type of vascular lesion, size, and skin type, multiple treatment sessions spaced 1–2 months apart may be necessary.
Spider Veins
Facial telangiectasias (spider veins) is a small spider-like proliferation of veins that are superficial in the skin. They may develop as a result of the normal aging process or secondary to inflammatory disorders and the skin such as rosacea. 1–2 treatments are usually necessary to obtain the desired results.
While telangiectasias on the face respond extremely well to treatment with the pulsed dye laser, spider venison the lower extremities are more difficult to eradicate. This is because they tend to lie deeper in the skin and have more of a venous component. While the pulse dye laser can be used to treat spider veins in the legs, it is not considered the optimal treatment.
Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas or blood vessel growth switch usually are noted in the facial area shortly after birth. They can continue to increase in size until approximately the age of 10 and then many well gradually regress (involute) in some cases they completely resolve. However as they grow they can stretch the dermal skin tissues and results in some facial scarring which becomes more obvious when the hemangioma involutes. The number of treatment sessions depends upon sized hemangioma in intensity of the blood vessel density. However, most people see significant improvement if not complete resolution in 3–4 treatments spaced 1–2 months apart.
Cherry Angiomas
Cherry angiomas are small, bright cherry–red spots that are essentially a collection of compacted blood vessels. They seem to be related to aging, and there may be a genetic correlation. Cherry angiomas appear to be more common in people over the age of 40 and at least one published medical study (American Family Physician) noted that they occur in up to 50% of adults. The main reason to treat cherry angiomas is cosmetic. While they can be treated by excision or electrocautery, the pulse dye laser is a very effective and virtually painless way to remove these vascular lesions with immediate recovery and virtually no scarring.
Post Wine Stains
A port–wine stain (nevus flammeus) is a malformation of the capillary blood vessels in the skin which results in discoloration of the skin with a color similar to port wine, a red wine from Portugal. These vascular lesions are seen at the time of birth, and the skin affected grows in proportion to general growth. Port-wine stains can be tremendously disforming and have significant adverse psychological effects on children. They commonly occur on the face, but can develop on any area of the body. They are usually flat and pink in appearance in babies, and as the child grows the color deepens to dark red or purplish color. Port–wine stain “birthmarks” occur in approximately 3–5 cases per 1000 newborn babies. One of the first uses of the pulse dye laser was to treat port-wine stains in infants. Today it is the gold standard for the treatment of port-wine stains. Significant improvement can be obtained in the majority of the cases. However, multiple treatments spaced 1–3 months apart may be necessary. Because the pulse dye laser is so gentle on the skin, treatment can begin when the child is only several months old.
If you are dealing with any of the previously mentioned issues, then pulsed dye laser treatment might be right for you. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call our office at 317-846-1028.
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