FAQ Port Wine Stain

Yes all PWS/PWB are present at birth but the color may vary depending on the baby’s skin tone.

Yes. It is reported that around 75% of all PWS/PWB will get darker and thicker over time.

No. They are the second most common vascular birthmark, after the Infantile Hemangioma

Yes there are. See figure.

The laser can only destroy the excess blood in the vessels that it can reach. Currently there is no laser that can reach all capillary vessels.

Additionally, some vessels have a very fast blood flow that the laser cannot reach. The current lasers only penetrate 1-2 mm. Capillaries (which make up a PWS/PWB0 vary in depth and size. You cannot target something that you cannot reach in depth, or catch in speed. However in some cases complete clinical clearance can occur.

Yes. A PWS/PWNB can be a clinical indicator of an underlying syndrome.

A PWS/PWB can appear darker or lighter based on temperature.

Yes. Approximately 67% occur in the head and neck area.

Yes. It occurs equally across sexes.

It is extremely rare for a PWS/PWB to resolve spontaneously without treatment. They are persistent lesions.

Skin tone does not matter as far as the pathology of the PWS/PWB. However it will ‘appear’ different based on skin tone. A PWS/PWB will appear more prominent on a lighter-skinned individual as compared to a darker-skinned individual.

Yes. There is an association.

Light from the laser goes into the skin and is absorbed by blood in the abnormal vessels. During this process, heat is generated, which coagulates the abnormal vessels.

A PWS/PWB is not a cosmetic condition. The entire affected area is abnormal; both the visible portion of the PWS/PWB and the area beneath the birthmark.

Yes. A PWS/PWB treated in infancy can result in maximum clearance if treated with frequent sessions. Regardless, treatment is still highly effective at any age and similar clearance can occur at any age.

Laser treatment (therapy) is the current standard for treating a PWS/PWB. There are other ‘light or energy sources’ which may also be helpful in treating these lesions.

Port Wine Stains/Port Wine Birthmarks are also known as a capillary malformation, nevus flammeus, or a firemark.

The spots that appear following a laser treatment are called ‘purpura’.

A PWS/PWB consists of malformed capillary blood vessels, which is why the medical term is ‘capillary vascular malformation’. The purpose of treating a PWS/PWB is to reduce the excess blood in the malformed vessels. ‘Treatment’ does not mean ‘removal’.

Laser therapy is the gold standard for treating a PWS/PWB. Along with reducing malformed vessels, it also preserves the integrity of the skin by preventing tissue thickening or cobbling.

1 in 300 babies are born with a PWS/PWB.

1 in 300 babies are born with a PWS/PWB.

The majority of untreated PWS/PWB will thicken and produce cobbling over time. For this reason it is not cosmetic to treat a PWS/PWB. Laser treatment focuses on preventing thickening, spontaneous bleeding and cobbling.

Treating a PWS/PWB with a laser will not remove the condition. However, treatment of some PWS/PWB can achieve 100% clearance so that the stain is not visible to the naked eye.