Port-wine stains: long-term histologic changes induced by argon and CO2 laser treatment

A good success rate has been achieved using argon and CO2 laser in the treatment of port-wine stains. So far however only a few studies have been published concerning the long term histologic changes in the irradiated skin. In the present study we report our findings from skin biopsies in patients treated for port-wine stains with argon and CO2 lasers. The results show that in spite of the high level of selectivity of optical absorption of argon emission by hemoglobin, after 3-9 months there is histologic evidence of connective proliferation and reactive fibrosis of the necrotic dermis comparable with that resulting from CO2 emission.