Guide To Identifying A Port Wine Stain

Medically known as a naevus flammeus, a port-wine stain is a skin discoloration that occurs due to a malformation of capillaries. Approximately three out of every one thousand children are born with port-wine stains, and the capillary malformation that produces them is linked to a genetic mutation that takes place before a baby is born. The mutation is not hereditary, so it is not passed down to future generations. For reasons not yet understood, females are twice as likely to develop port-wine stains as males. The birthmarks can be easily diagnosed with a visual inspection of the skin, and laser therapy is usually the preferred treatment method. Patients may also choose to use concealing makeup.