Patient Education

Port Wine Stains and Hemangiomas

Port-wine stains are flat purple-to-red birthmarks made of dilated blood capillaries. These birthmarks occur most often on the face and may vary in size. Port-wine stains often are permanent unless treated

Strawberry hemangiomas, another type of birthmark, may appear anywhere on the body. They are most common on the face, scalp, back, or chest. They consist of small, closely packed blood vessels. Strawberry hemangiomas can be absent at birth, but develop at several weeks. After a period of rapid growth, they stabilize and then many eventually go away. In most cases, strawberry hemangiomas disappear by the time a child is 9 years old. Some discoloration or puckering of the skin may remain at the site of the hemangioma.

The cause of most birthmarks is unknown. Most of them are not inherited. Many folk tales and myths exist about the causes of birthmarks, but none of these stories have been proven to explain the true causes of birthmarks.

Tremendous advances have been made in the treatment of these birthmarks. Dr. Stashower and his staff at the Clinical Skin Center are the established experts in the DC area on these birthmarks.  We have the safest and latest laser technology and can create a personalized treatment plan for you or your child. We treat patients from newborns to adulthood. These treatments are often eligible for insurance coverage even in adults! 

Schedule an appointment now and see why our doctors get better results!

These before and after pictures are representative of some of our most satisfied patients. Results and number of treatments will vary. A person's results will depend on a variety of factors. Photos are provided for example purposes only, and may not represent the results that all people will obtain.