Common Causes And Complications Of A Port Wine Stain

A port-wine stain is a type of congenital capillary vascular malformation that affects an estimated one in every three hundred newborns. This birthmark develops most frequently on the face, scalp, and neck, and it is a pink or reddish color at birth. As a child ages, port-wine stains tend to become darker in color, often reaching a deep purple. Unlike some other types of birthmarks, port-wine stains are flat (not elevated above the skin's surface). However, adult patients with port-wine stains might notice the formation of ridges or lumps in the area. To diagnose port-wine stains, doctors simply observe the skin. If the port-wine stain is located on the face or near the eye, imaging studies such as MRI scans may be performed to check for rare underlying medical conditions that are sometimes associated with capillary vascular malformations. Port-wine stains can be treated with pulsed dye laser therapy, and some patients might choose to wear concealer.