What is a Portwine Stain?
A portwine stain or capillary malformation is a vascular birthmark or lesion that is caused by an excess amount of blood flow in the capillaries just beneath the skin. The color of this birthmark is caused by the excess blood flowing through the capillaries and can range from light pink to dark purple. Portwine stains develop in the first few weeks of gestation. There are some studies that correlate the excess capillary growth with a nerve deficiency. Because portwine stains are vascular birthmarks, they are not curable. Pulsed dye laser is the treatment of choice for the management of the birthmark. The laser temporarily shrinks the capillaries, causing a lightening of color. The capillaries usually will eventually grow back; thus the need for repeated laser treatments and maintenence.
