Birthmarks: Types of Birthmarks

Vascular birthmarks. Caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels in the skin, these reddish blemishes are very common. Using laser and IPL, affected blood vessels are closed off below the skin’s surface, effectively returning the area to normal.   

Vascular Lesion Courtesy of: Beverly Kemsley, M.D. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Pigmented birthmarks. No one knows exactly why these birthmarks occur. The ‘how’ is an overgrowth of melanocytes (skin cells responsible for pigmentation).  IPL precisely targets and removes the pigmentation in a series of gentle, but thorough, treatments.¹ 

Port Wine Stains. Remember that continent-shaped mark on Mikhail Gorbachev’s forehead? Today, disfiguring birthmarks of this kind are highly treatable with IPL, which closes the capillaries, restoring normal coloration to the affected area.²   

Port Wine Stain Courtesy of: Gayle Rothenberg, MD Houston, Texas

Hemangiomas. These raised or bulging lesions can appear anywhere on the body, in children or adults.  Commonly called ‘red moles’, they can be eliminated or drastically reduced with several rapid IPL sessions.³

Hemangioma Courtesy of: James Dolezal, M.D. Council Bluffs, Iowa

^{1. Reference: J Cutan Laser Ther. 2000 Dec;2(4):177-81. Intense pulsed light source for treatment of small melanocytic nevi and solar lentigines. Bjerring P, Christiansen K.}

^{2. Reference: Lasers Surg Med. 2010 Oct;42(8):720-7. Split-face comparison of intense pulsed light with short- and long-pulsed dye lasers for the treatment of port-wine stains. Babilas P, Schreml S, Eames T, Hohenleutner U, Szeimies RM, Landthaler M.}

^{3. Reference: Li DN, Gold MH, Sun ZS, Tang AR, Wang HB, Sheng-Kang L.J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2010 Jun;12(3):145-50. Treatment of infantile hemangioma with optimal pulse technology.}