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[Nevus flammeus in small children treated pulsed dye laser]
Insights
Pulsed dye laser treatment effectively cleared or significantly lightened port wine stains in children under 7.5 years old. Early intervention in younger children led to fewer treatment sessions for facial and neck vascular malformations.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Laser Therapy
- Vascular Malformations
Abstract:
We report the results of treating 30 children less than 7.5 years old for port wine stains of the face and neck using pulsed dye laser with a wave length of 585 nm. The children were given a general anaesthetic. In five children the stains disappeared completely and in 21 there was marked improvement (> 75% lighter). The younger age group, 7 months to 4 years, required fewer treatment sessions (mean 3.7) than the older age group, 4 to 7 years (mean 5.1 sessions), indicating the benefit of early treatment. No side effects were seen except for transient hyperpigmentation.