Port Wine Stains are not actual stains from spilled wine. Spilled wine can be mopped up or, if they are applied to fabric, can be treated with chemical cleaners depending on their severity.
Port Wine Stains (or PWS) are congenital malformations of small blood vessels and capillaries in the upper dermis level of the skin. They affect about 0.5% of all births and about 1.2 million people in the United States alone.
PWS begin as pink patches on the skin, then grow into the area and darken color over time. They are most common on the face and neck.
Although PWS is not a common problem, it is an embarrassment to those who have it. Understandably, PWS can exacerbate low self-esteem and psychological distress within those same people.
As people get older, these areas can be raised on the skin's surface. They can also bleed easily if irritated or injured.
Fortunately, lasers have been effectively and safely used since the 1970s to treat PWS. Newer generations of lasers have improved the effectiveness of treatment, and are considered the gold standard for PWS therapy.
Although treatment is more effective in younger patients when the blood vessels are smaller, we at Maine Laser Skin Care have treated many adults who have suffered for many years with the embarrassment of PWS. For women undergoing the procedure, the ability to use less makeup and different hairstyles has been extremely liberating.
Maine Laser Skin Care, as our name emphasizes, is one of the most experienced medical spas in the state with multiple decades of successful treatments and satisfied patients. If you or someone you know has been struggling with PWS or a similar skin condition, please feel free to call us either in Augusta at (207) 873-2158, or in Scarborough at (207) 303-0125 to schedule your free, confidential consultation to see how we can help.