Articles & Advice | Port Wine Stains Treatment Tips

Port Wine Stains Treatment Tips

By Juliet Cohen

A port-wine stain is birthmark in which swollen blood vessels cause a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin. It often affects the facial region.

Port-wine stains occur in about 3 out of 1,000 people. Port-wine stains may be a sign of Sturge-Weber syndrome or Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. Port-wine stains are present at birth and persist throughout life. The area of skin affected grows in proportion to general growth. The incidence is 3 out of 1,000 people.

Port-wine stains occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. Early stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child matures, the color may deepen to a dark red or purplish color. In adulthood, thickening of the lesion or the development of small lumps may occur.

  Port wine stains vary in size from a few millimetres across to many centimetres. Early port-wine stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child gets older, the color may deepen to a dark red or purplish color. They occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. There is a sharp line between the port wine stain and normal skin. Their colour can vary from pale red to deep purple.

A port wine stain is a localised blood vessel problem. Tiny blood vessels can normally narrow (constrict) or widen (dilate) depending on circumstances. This allows different amounts of blood to the skin surface. The more blood, the redder the skin. Treatments have been tried for port-wine stains, including freezing, surgery, radiation, and tattooing.

Cosmetic or camouflage creams are often very helpful.