The Pulsed dye laser treatment is designed to lighten red coloured skin marks, such as port wine stains, birth marks on your skin or facial thread veins. These marks are referred to as ‘lesions’ throughout this leaflet. These lesions contain tiny blood vessels (capillaries) which have grown larger or more clustered; this is the site of laser treatment.
A concentrated beam of pure yellow light is produced by the laser and sent through a fibre optic cable which is absorbed by the redness of the blood vessel just beneath the skin’s surface. The laser beam is converted into heat, raising the temperature of the blood vessel causing it to shrivel and form a bruise. The beam from the laser is not long enough to penetrate or damage the surrounding healthy tissues.
Once the bruise has faded, the redness of the lesion should be paler than prior to the treatment. It is generally recommended that for the best outcomes you follow a course of either three or six treatments (plus a practice session using a small test site) depending upon a few factors: the size and type of the lesion; its location; your skin tone; and the depth of the lesion from the skin’s surface.
Sometimes a non-bruising mode may be used, but this generally requires more treatment sessions to achieve the desired results.
Pulsed dye lasers are particularly effective at treating vascular lesions, including treatment of:
As with any procedure, pulsed dye laser treatment carries some degree of risk. Whilst serious complications are rare, it is important to be aware of any potential risks and to discuss any concerns with your doctor at the time of treatment.
Patients have described the sensation of each laser pulse as feeling like the snapping of an elastic band against their skin. A topical anaesthesia applied to the lesion may be used to lessen the discomfort of the pulses, but will not completely numb the area and must be applied 1 hour before treatment.
If needed, there are various alternative methods of anaesthesia available, particularly if treatment is being delivered to a sensitive area. Most pulsed dye lasers have a cooling spray next to the laser head; this makes the patient less aware of the sting and the heat of the beam. Children may sometimes be given a general anaesthetic for the procedure which will be discussed with you at consultation.
Directly after treatment, the person delivering your treatment will apply a greasy moisturiser (e.g. Vaseline) before you leave the room. You may wish to have a dressing applied to cover the treated area; this may be useful if it’s a sunny day and can be removed as soon as you get home. You will be able to leave as soon as the treatment has completed. If you have had a treatment to the eye area and had a protective eye shield it is not advisable to drive yourself home, it is fine to use public transport.
After treatment:
Pulse Dye Laser treatment on Harley Street, Elstree and Northwood is very effective for reducing the darkness of vascularised lesions. It is important that you firmly understand the compromise between benefit and potential risk of any treatment you choose to undertake. You should make sure your doctor is aware if you:
Paediatric dermatology encompasses skin, hair and nail problems affecting children, including newborns and infants
IPL is a good treatment for many skin conditions particularly rosacea, hair removal and some pigmentation problems. We have access to 3 IPL machines including the Soprano IPL
This is the latest validated technology in skin cancer diagnosis. It involves the use of a laser-assisted microscope.
Patients visit us from around the world for help with their skin issues
This refers to skin, hair and nail conditions, which cause problems other than their cosmetic appearance.
All our consultant dermatologists are experts in moles and skin cancer screening.