Overview
What is BIRTH-MARKS
Brown birth marks are usually present at birth and will slowly increase in size in proportion to the individual. Flat brown birth marks can occasionally be treated with good result with the use of our Accolade or YAG laser.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before |
|
After |
There are several types of birthmarks that respond well to laser treatment. At the Medispa Institute, we can treat café-au-lait macules, which are brown birthmarks of varying size, and Nevus of Ota, a birthmark that normally appears around the eye on one side of the face.
What is involved in the treatment ?
Skin blemishes that are present at birth or appear soon after are generally referred to as "birthmarks". These may be red or brown and represent an overgrowth of superficial blood vessels or pigment cells. The treatment of these birthmarks depends on the type of lesion.
- Port wine stain birthmarks:
These flat red marks are present at birth and will not disappear over time. Until recently, these disfiguring birthmarks were life-long problems which have the potential to thicken and become more unsightly with ageing. As the foundation director of the laser unit at the Royal Children's Hospital, Dr Bekhor has been using laser therapy to fade and, in many cases, remove these birthmarks in young children before they start school.
This has enormous social implications in an unkind world. The Candela Vbeam PerfectaT pulsed dye laser is the treatment of choice for these birthmark lesions. Young children can be treated at the Royal Children's Hospital. Adults who have missed out on early intervention may also benefit from treatment, with the Perfecta laser, the FlexT IPL (intense pulsed light) and / or the Long Pulsed Nd YAG laser, including the GeminiT laser. The Dermatology Laser Unit at the Royal Children's Hospital is the only specialist paediatric centre that can offer safe treatment under general anaesthesia. - Haemangiomas (Strawberry birthmarks):
These are flat red birthmarks that are not present immediately at birth but appear in the first weeks of life. They birthmarks often grow and thicken rapidly and, in extreme circumstances, ulcerate. This type of haemangioma will usually disappear by 10 years of age, but may cause developmental and social problems before this. Again, Candela PerfectaT pulsed dye laser is the treatment of choice to arrest the growth and thickening of these birthmarks.
Laser Treatment is only successful on flat lesions, so early diagnosis and intervention of these haemangiomas is extremely important. Usually a paediatrician or Infant Welfare nurse will identify the early signs of birthmarks and refer babies to our experienced dermatologist.
If a haemangioma appears on an eyelid, nose, lip or extensively over the face, this should be regarded as a medical emergency requiring urgent medical intervention. The mainstay of treatment in these situations are steroids, usually oral but occasionally injected into the haemangioma. In selected cases where the birthmark is still flat, laser may be used. Infants presenting with these birthmarks are usually managed by the team at the Children's Hospital where the combined expertise of medical specialists, including laser dermatologists and paediatricians, achieves the best outcome. - Spider naevi : These small annoying red spots often appear in young children and can lead to teasing at school. They are caused by the dilation of a small arteriole close to the skin. Fortunately, they respond very well to laser treatment with the pulsed dye laser and usually only a single laser treatment is necessary.
- Brown birthmarks :
Like vascular (red) birthmarks, some of these are present at birth while others appear over time. The skin colour- producing cell is known as a melanocyte and the brown colour produced is referred to as melanin. Brown birthmarks are caused by a proliferation of melanocyte cells or an increase in melanin production in a specific area.
The laser treatment of choice is Q-Switched Laser (Ruby, YAG or Alexandrite). Café au lait (flat, milk coffee coloured marks) birthmarks respond in 50% of cases. Naevus of Ota and naevus of Ito usually respond well, as does Hori's naevus. Becker's naevus, unfortunately, only responds to laser treatment in a minority of cases. Usually a laser test treatment is carried out to establish whether the lesion is responsive to laser removal.
The Laser Unit at the Royal Children's Hospital is the only location that can offer extensive laser treatment of brown birthmarks on children under general anaesthetic.
Congenital Melanocytic Naevi are essentially moles that appear at birth. Sometimes they can be extremely large and are known as "Bathing Trunk Naevi". These lesions may sometimes respond to laser treatment.
TREATMENT
Abnormal vascular skin lesions, or birthmarks, are treated with a pulsed dye laser which produces a beam of yellow light that passes harmlessly through the translucent layers of the skin and specifically heats the red blood vessels causing the lesion. Because the beam is emitted in short pulses, the heat produced in the blood diffuses without damaging the surrounding tissue. After the heated blood congeals, the vessels atrophy. Thus, the laser removes or dramatically fades the marks with virtually no scarring.
For more information, medical assessment and medical quote
as email attachment to
Email : - info@wecareindia.com
Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST)
(Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)
Chemical Peels 
Fat Transfer 
Fraxel Repair 
Coronary 
Lip Enhancement 
Thermage 
