Treatment Options For A Port-Wine Stain

Other Laser Treatments

Depending on the location and specific characteristics of a patient's port-wine stain, doctors might recommend other laser treatments instead of pulsed dye laser therapy. Sometimes, other laser treatments might also be combined with pulsed dye lasers. A combination of laser therapy types could be most appropriate for the treatment of mature port-wine stains that are dark purple or lumpy. To reach the thicker areas of a mature port-wine stain, some dermatologists use 532 nm lasers or alexandrite lasers in conjunction with pulsed dye lasers. 532 nm lasers are diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and alexandrite lasers are a type of red light laser. Patients may want to ask several different dermatologists about the types of laser treatments that could be effective for their needs. After undergoing any type of laser treatment, patients should remain vigilant for potential side effects, and these should be reported promptly to the treatment provider.