Are you self conscious about a birthmark? Do you feel like you've tried everything to remove it? If so, Southern
Oregon Laser Center can help. We're experts at erasing vascular birthmarks (Port Wine Stains) using cosmetic lasers.
Traditionally, port wine stains were difficult to treat, but at Southern Oregon Laser Center we've overcome
these difficulties. We use state-of-the-art laser technology to safely and effectively eliminate port wine stains. During treatment,
the energy of the laser is absorbed by the hemoglobin in blood, causing the tiny vessels that create the redness
to close. Abnormal blood vessels are then absorbed into the body allowing your skin's natural color and tone to show through.
What is a Port Wine Stain?
A port wine stain (naevus flammeus) is a red or purple birthmark which affects about 3 out of every 1000 babies.
It is a type of blood vessel birthmark which presents at birth as a uniform flat red, purple or pink mark on the
skin, often on one side of the body, usually the face. They are congenital overgrowths of small blood vessels in
the skin. Port wine stains are twice as common in girls as boys, and they may darken with age, thicken with raised
bumps (papules) or ridges and increase in size proportionally to the child's growth. They grow with the individual
and do not improve over time. They can occur on any part of the skin surface but cause most concern when they affect the face.
Causes of Port Wine Stains
Port wine stains are caused by an abnormal development of blood vessels in the area of the skin where they are present.
They are not inherited and are not related to anything that the parents may have done during pregnancy.