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Cosmetic Specialties |
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| Therapies For |
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| Anti-Aging |
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| Skin Rejuvenation |
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| Body Sculpting |
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Birthmarks
What are Birthmarks?
Typical Treatments
FAQs
Almost everyone has a birthmark. In most instances, birthmarks are small, and often located in inconspicuous areas covered by clothing. Many people consider these innocuous birthmarks a sign of their own uniqueness. However, some birthmarks are clearly disfiguring, especially those that appear on the face and neck. These birthmarks can be a source of great psychological and social pain.
There are two basic types of birthmarks. Red or vascular birthmarks are caused by an irregularity in the blood vessels and are the most common type of birthmarks. Pigmented birthmarks, known as nevus (singular) or nevi (plural), are brown in color and may be very large. Many birthmarks fade before children reach school age, but more commonly, they remain if untreated.
Treatment options for birthmarks have traditionally included cryosurgery (freezing off the birthmark), traditional surgery, ablative laser surgery, and the use of steroid medications. These conventional treatments can be effective, but are painful. They frequently damage healthy skin resulting in scarring, and they require lengthy recovery times.
However, IPL™ provides new options for many patients with disfiguring birthmarks. IPL treatments are non-invasive. A series of treatments can provide a long-lasting solution for those suffering from unsightly birthmarks.
What are Birthmarks?
Birthmarks are individually unique areas of raised or flat
discolored skin. Most birthmarks are visible on a baby's skin at birth;
others may not show up for several days or weeks. Contrary to a popular
myth, they are not related to any trauma or stress experienced by
mothers during pregnancy.
Most birthmarks are harmless; many fade on their own in the first
few years of life. But some vascular birthmarks (caused by an abnormal
cluster of blood vessels that grow during fetal development) can grow
larger and more pronounced over time. According to the Vascular
Birthmarks Foundation (www.birthmark.org), approximately 40,000 U.S.
children born each year have birthmarks that require specialized medical attention.
Vascular Birthmarks
Red and purple birthmarks appear in a variety of sizes and are the
result of enlarged small blood vessels (capillaries) just beneath the
surface of the skin. Vascular birthmarks do not fade away.
Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas are raised or bulging lesions that consist of dilated vessels that
appear within one month of birth. Approximately 10% of all babies are
born with hemangiomas. Although some regress during the first few
years, 10% of hemangiomas grow in size by age 12.
Strawberry hemangiomas get their name from their bright red
coloration and raised texture. This type of hemangioma may appear
anywhere on the body, but is most common on the face, scalp, back, or
chest. Strawberry hemangiomas consist of small, closely packed blood
vessels. They may develop within several weeks following birth. They
usually grow rapidly, remain a fixed size for a while, and then
subside. 95% of strawberry hemangiomas disappear by the time the child
is 10 years old, although there may be some slight discoloration or
puckering of the skin that fails to regress.
In adults the most common hemangiomas are cherry angiomas, which appear as smooth, red projections.
Hemangiomas of many descriptions can be treated successfully using a Lumenis IPL™ device. After several,
rapid treatments, the hemangiomas usually reduce in size, or are totally eliminated.
Port Wine Stains
Similar in appearance to other red birthmarks, port wine stains show up as red
or purple blotches on the skin, and do not fade away. The most familiar
example of a port wine stain probably belongs to former Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachov, who has one on his forehead. These birthmarks are
caused by a web of dilated capillaries within the skin structure.
Treatment involves closing up these capillaries, which are not
necessary for blood circulation. The discoloration is resolved as blood
no longer flows through the area.
About three out of every 1,000 babies are born with a port wine
stain, which may grow progressively darker and thicker over time,
changing the texture of the skin and becoming more difficult to treat.
Port wine stains on the forehead, eyelids or both sides of the face are
sometimes associated with other developmental abnormalities such as
glaucoma, which, when left untreated, can cause blindness. Please
consult your physician for more information and an examination.
Port wine stains were the first skin condition to be treated
successfully with lasers and light technology. These treatments proved
light's ability to treat blood vessels and blood without harming the
surrounding skin structures.
Treatment of port wine stains requires a series of IPL procedures
over several weeks. Through this gradual, cumulative process, the IPL
can produce excellent results.
Macular Stains
These faint, mild red marks are the most
common type of vascular birthmarks, appearing on 30% to 50% of
newborns. They are often called "angel's kisses," when they are located
on the forehead or eyelids, where they tend to disappear by the age of
two. When they're found on the back of the neck, they're called "stork
bites" or "salmon patches," and usually last into adulthood. Macular
stains may also occur on the tip of the nose, upper lip or any other
body location.
Pigmented Birthmarks
Compared to red vascular birthmarks,
pigmented lesions and nevi (moles) can be more difficult to treat.
Lasers and IPL can often help in the fading process, but a complete
resolution is difficult to achieve.
Cafe Au Lait Birthmarks
These light tan spots are common
birthmarks that are similar in color to coffee with milk. About 20% of
children are born with these discolorations, which usually shrink as
the child grows.
Nevi (moles)
These are small clusters of pigmented skin
cells. Nearly everyone has moles, which usually appear after birth.
Congenital nevi (moles present at birth) have an increased risk of
becoming skin cancer. This is especially true if the mole covers an
area of the body larger than a fist. All congenital moles should be
examined by an appropriately trained health care provider.
Mongolian Spots
Also called mongolian blue spots, they
usually appear as bluish or bruised skin. They are often found on the
lower back or buttocks and are more commonly seen in darker-skinned
individuals. This birthmark may persist for months or years, but rarely
becomes cancerous or develops other symptoms.
Typical Treatments
Many of the more conventional treatments to remove or diminish the
appearance of birthmarks involve long and sometimes painful processes.
The use of corticosteroid medications carries a number of risks.
Cryosurgery (freezing off the birthmark) has limited applicability.
Surgery and treatment with ablative lasers can cause scarring and harm
nearby healthy skin. Fortunately, new laser and IPL™-based
therapies are allowing physicians to successfully treat many types of
unsightly birthmarks and pigmentation simply and non-invasively. It's
important that prospective patients consult with a physician to
determine the most appropriate treatment.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for Vascular Birthmarks
A unique, non-invasive treatment strategy has revolutionized the treatment of the widest range of vascular skin lesions. Lumenis™
systems combining pulsed laser light and a broad band of Intense Pulsed
Light offer the most effective and long-lasting treatment for port wine
stains and hemangiomas. Lumenis systems use laser and IPL to
selectively close off different size blood vessels at varying depths
below the skin's surface, allowing the birthmarks to fade. Physicians
are now able to treat complex birthmarks with pinpoint accuracy,
eliminating the birthmark while sparing healthy tissue from injury.
Discomfort and side effects are minimized, and virtually all patients
return to their normal routines immediately afterwards.
What to Expect
Physicians determine a treatment plan for each patient depending on
the size, location and other characteristics of the lesion. A large,
facial birthmark can be treated in approximately 30 minutes, and a
series of treatments is required for the maximum effect. Before
treatment, a cold gel is usually applied to the area to be treated, and
patients are given protective eyewear. During treatment, the smooth
glass surface of the IPL handpiece is gently applied to the skin,
delivering precise pulses of light to the area being treated. IPL
treatments are considered pain-free, but an anesthetic cream can be
used if the light pulses are uncomfortable. Some patients compare the
sensation to a light pinch or the snap of a rubber band. Patients can
return to their normal activities immediately after treatment.
FAQs
What are birthmarks?
There are two basic types of birthmarks. Red or vascular birthmarks
are most commonly seen, and are caused by an irregularity in the blood
vessels. These include port wine stains and hemangiomas. Pigmented
birthmarks, known as nevus (singular) or nevi (plural), are brown in
color and are often less pronounced. Many birthmarks fade away before
children reach school age, but they may remain and undergo changes over
time.
What light-based treatments are most effective for vascular birthmarks?
Systems combining pulsed laser light and a broad band of Intense
Pulsed Light (IPL) offer the most effective and long-lasting treatment
for vascular birthmarks such as port wine stains and hemangiomas.
Lumenis systems use laser and IPL to selectively close off different
size blood vessels at varying depths below the skin's surface, thus
causing the birthmark to fade. Physicians are able to treat complex
birthmarks with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating the birthmark while
sparing healthy tissue from damage.
Can children be treated with lasers and IPL?
Yes, in fact, most effective treatment programs for birthmarks begin
in childhood. However, depending on the patient's age and the size and
location of the birthmark, the child may have to be anesthetized to
remain calm during treatment. Many laser specialists have experience in
pediatrics and know how to manage such cases.
How long does a laser or IPL treatment take?
The length of a single treatment depends on the size and
characteristics of the birthmark. Using IPL, treatment of a large
facial birthmark may take about 30 minutes, with a series of treatments
required for the maximum effect.
What is purpura?
Purpura is the temporary purple discoloration, the bruising effect
that is sometimes left by the laser or IPL after a treatment of a port
wine stain. Purpura usually subsides and disappears in two to four
weeks.
What is a treatment with IPL like? Is it painful?
A pulse of Intense Pulsed Light energy may feel like a pinch or a
rubber band snapped against the skin. A chilled gel applied to the skin
and an optional, topical anesthetic prevent discomfort. Patients must
wear protective eyewear to shield their eyes from the therapeutic
flashes of light. The entire process is brief and non-invasive.
Are treatments with IPL safe? Are they approved by the government?
IPL systems are FDA-cleared to market for the treatment of a wide
range of vascular and pigmented lesions. The system has an excellent
safety profile.
Does insurance cover IPL treatment for birthmarks?
Coverage varies from carrier to carrier. Most insurance companies
consider birthmarks as a cosmetic issue and do not offer reimbursement
for treatment. Patients considering treatment should consult with their
physicians and insurance carriers for more information. Some parent
groups are lobbying for changes in insurance coverage. For more
information, go to www.birthmark.org.
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