Laser Birthmark Removal

• Port Wine Stain
• Nevus of Ota
• Cafe Au Lait

The Center for Laser Surgery has over twenty years experience in laser treatment of birthmarks and is a recognized expert in the treatments of the entire spectrum of congenital vascular and pigmented skin conditions.
Approximately five percent of patients are born with one or more types skin discolorations commonly referred as birthmarks. Birthmarks maybe vascular in nature ranging from flat capillary hemangiomas or port wine stains to large raised vuascular growths or hemangiomas.

Port Wine Stain

Brown pigmented birthmarks or café au lait spots are also commonly noted in a significant number of newborns. Nevus of Ota is a blue-black birthmark commonly seen at birth or developing in the first few years of life.
Fortunately new advances in laser surgery have enabled us to remove or improve many of these conditions. The Center For Laser Surgery has a ten unique vascular and pigment lesion lasers capable of treating port wine stains hemangiomas, café au lait lesions and nevus of Ota.
Nevus of Ota or blue-black facial birthmarks can be treated using newer Q-Switched Ruby, Alexandrite and Neodymium-YAG Lasers.
Birthmarks are congenital (present at birth) abnormalities of the skin that are seen in approximately 5% of the population. Birthmarks may be composed of blood vessels, (port wine stain or hemangiomas), pigmented cells called café au lait (coffee and cream) or blue black dermal stains called nevus of Ota.

Port Wine Stain

Port wine stains can occur anywhere on the body and may rarely be associated with underlying abnormalities of the eye and brain. Port wine stains show diffuse collections of dilated capillaries in the dermis thus their name capillary hemangioma. New treatments using pulsed yellow and green light lasers can improve or eliminate many of these lesions.
The Center for Laser Surgery has various programs for infants, children and adults with these conditions. Hemangiomas are raised vascular tumors that may be found in superficial or deep (cavernous) locations in the skin. Hemangiomas may undergo rapid growth in the first few weeks of life and may present problems secondary to compression of vital structures (eye, neck). Evidence suggests that hemangiomas are best treated early in life prior to there rapid expansion phase. Multiple lasers are available, at our center to address these vascular tumors. Pulsed yellow, green light, Diode, Alexandrite and ND-YAG lasers are all used to treat these lesions depending on size, color and anatomic location. Pigment birthmarks are divided into superficial epidermal (café au lait) or deep (nevus of ota) varieties.

Coffee and Cream Birthmark

Café au lait birthmarks are caused by excess melanin deposits in the epidermis and respond very favorably to pulsed green light lasers. However, there is approximately a 50% risk of recurrence requiring re-treatment. Nevus of Ota shows good to excellent response using Ruby, Alexandrite or ND YAG lasers. Multiple treatments are required to eliminate the collections of pigment cells seen deep in the dermis.

Nevus of Ota (Blue Facial Birthmark)

Nevus of Ota (Blue Facial Birthmark)

Nevus of Ota Before and After

Birthmarks are generally treated until no further lightening occurs. We may at that point try other lasers in order to obtain further response.
If you or someone you know is concerned about their birthmark and would like more information on birthmark removal or improvement, please call the Center for Laser Surgery at 202-966-8814 for a consultation.