The flashlamp pumped dye laser, a yellow light laser, has been the most successful at destroying stains in infants and young children. Two other yellow light lasers, the copper vapor and krypton laser, have been used successfully in adults. The neodymium-YAG laser is used to treat thick, nodular, deep purple port wine stains. Treatment of infants with the flashlamp pumped dye laser generally produce marked improvement in appearance. Stains on the face respond better than those on the trunk or limbs.
Older stains are more difficult to treat.
Port wine stains may appear in association with other syndromes. They are present from birth. At birth, they may be a light pink color but darken with age, sometimes becoming deep purple. Skin texture, which is normal at birth, becomes progressively rougher and the port wine stain may become elevated and nodular in texture. This individual has had several laser treatments to decrease the color by decreasing the number of blood vessels.