Recent advances in laser treatment of port-wine stains.
The pulsed dye laser is the treatment of choice for port-wine stains, with proven efficacy and low incidence of side-effects. However, in the majority of cases complete clearance cannot be achieved, and a significant proportion of lesions is resistant to laser treatment. In recent years, increased understanding of the interaction between lasers and port-wine stains has led to modification of the original pulsed dye laser design, producing treatment responses even in those lesions resistant to first-generation pulsed dye lasers. Other lasers and noncoherent light sources also appear to have a potential role in treatment. In this review we discuss these recent developments.
Lanigan
S W
SW
Lasercare Clinics, Birmingham Skin Centre, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK.
Taibjee
S M
SM
D004867:Equipment Design; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis