birthmarks = issues
mostly everyone who reads this knows me and (most likely) the fact that i have a birthmark. if you don't know this let me tell you.. it's no itty bitty thing. i figured posting info and pictures publically would be a way to help me deal with my insecurities. with that said.. here is some info about my birthmark in particular (called a port wine stain). see? you learn something everyday.
Port-Wine Stains
The port-wine stain is another type of vascular birthmark that occurs in 3 in 1,000 infants. It is sometimes called a nevus flammeus, or capillary hemangioma, but it should not be confused with a hemangioma.
Port-wine stains appear at birth. They are flat, pink, red or purplish discolorations, found most often on the face, neck, arms or legs. They can be any size. Unlike hemangiomas, port-wine stains grow only as the child grows. Over time, port-wine stains may become thick and develop small bumps or ridges. Port-wine stains do not go away by themselves. They last a lifetime.
Complications of Port-Wine Stains
Port-wine stains, especially those on the face, can have emotional, social, and economic complications. Port-wine stains on the forehead, eyelids or both sides of the face, can be associated with glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye that, left untreated, can cause blindness. These complications occur in less than one-fourth of those with port-wine stains of the forehead and eyelids. All infants with a port-wine stain in those areas should have a thorough eye and brain examination.
Occasionally, there may be very gradual enlargement of tissues surrounding a port-wine stain. All children with large port-wine stains involving an arm or leg should be followed for any growth problems.
With time, port-wine stains can develop small blood vessel growths, called pyogenic granulomas. These can bleed easily, and should be removed.
Treatment of Port-Wine Stains
The use of cover-up makeup has been a common treatment for port-wine stains. Your doctor can provide you with more information about products that are made to cover up birthmarks .
Various methods have been tried in the past to remove port-wine stains, but none have worked well. New types of lasers have shown the best results with the least amount of risk and side effects. Laser treatment of port-wine stains is FDA-approved, and available at many centers around the country. For best results, treatment should begin as early as possible, even in infancy. Laser surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Several treatments are usually required, given at two month intervals. Younger patients often require fewer treatments than adults. In about one-fourth of the patients, lasers can totally clear up the port-wine stain. Seventy percent will look much better. For reasons that are not understood, a small number of patients will not respond well to laser therapy.
There are several risks of laser therapy. An increase or decrease in skin color can occur, leaving patchy tanning or whitening of the skin. In most cases this is not permanent. Swelling, crusting or minor bleeding can occur. This is unusual and can be treated easily. Permanent scarring has happened, but is extremely rare. Laser therapy is uncomfortable, but not extremely painful. Anesthesia is not required for most adults. However, anesthesia is often important for toddlers and young children. If putting the child to sleep is required, there are some risks and higher costs.
maybe next entry i'll go into detail about my treatment/issues/etc... just trying this out to see where it goes...
Port-Wine Stains
The port-wine stain is another type of vascular birthmark that occurs in 3 in 1,000 infants. It is sometimes called a nevus flammeus, or capillary hemangioma, but it should not be confused with a hemangioma.
Port-wine stains appear at birth. They are flat, pink, red or purplish discolorations, found most often on the face, neck, arms or legs. They can be any size. Unlike hemangiomas, port-wine stains grow only as the child grows. Over time, port-wine stains may become thick and develop small bumps or ridges. Port-wine stains do not go away by themselves. They last a lifetime.
Complications of Port-Wine Stains
Port-wine stains, especially those on the face, can have emotional, social, and economic complications. Port-wine stains on the forehead, eyelids or both sides of the face, can be associated with glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye that, left untreated, can cause blindness. These complications occur in less than one-fourth of those with port-wine stains of the forehead and eyelids. All infants with a port-wine stain in those areas should have a thorough eye and brain examination.
Occasionally, there may be very gradual enlargement of tissues surrounding a port-wine stain. All children with large port-wine stains involving an arm or leg should be followed for any growth problems.
With time, port-wine stains can develop small blood vessel growths, called pyogenic granulomas. These can bleed easily, and should be removed.
Treatment of Port-Wine Stains
The use of cover-up makeup has been a common treatment for port-wine stains. Your doctor can provide you with more information about products that are made to cover up birthmarks .
Various methods have been tried in the past to remove port-wine stains, but none have worked well. New types of lasers have shown the best results with the least amount of risk and side effects. Laser treatment of port-wine stains is FDA-approved, and available at many centers around the country. For best results, treatment should begin as early as possible, even in infancy. Laser surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Several treatments are usually required, given at two month intervals. Younger patients often require fewer treatments than adults. In about one-fourth of the patients, lasers can totally clear up the port-wine stain. Seventy percent will look much better. For reasons that are not understood, a small number of patients will not respond well to laser therapy.
There are several risks of laser therapy. An increase or decrease in skin color can occur, leaving patchy tanning or whitening of the skin. In most cases this is not permanent. Swelling, crusting or minor bleeding can occur. This is unusual and can be treated easily. Permanent scarring has happened, but is extremely rare. Laser therapy is uncomfortable, but not extremely painful. Anesthesia is not required for most adults. However, anesthesia is often important for toddlers and young children. If putting the child to sleep is required, there are some risks and higher costs.
maybe next entry i'll go into detail about my treatment/issues/etc... just trying this out to see where it goes...