Red Facial Blemishes Red Facial Blemishes Red blemishes on the face are usually due to dilated blood vessels. These vessels are best treated with lasers and respond poorly to conventional electro-surgery. Dr. Langdon uses the Krypton laser which has the distinct advantage of not causing discoloration of treated areas. The pulsed dye laser is also commonly used but always causes an intense dark bruising reaction that can take up to two weeks to fade and is difficult to camouflage.
Vascular birthmarks are also due to dilated blood vessels that are very closely clustered together.
Thses include portwine stains and hemangiomas. These also respond to the Krypton laser as well as the pulsed dye laser. In early childhood the pulsed dye laser seems to be more effective, whereas in adults the Krypton or Argon lasers may be superior.