Red marks in the skin including port wine stains, thread veins and spider veins, can often be removed by treatment with the Pulsed Dye Laser or our Nd:YAG long-pulsed laser. The effectiveness of removal depends on the size of the blood vessels and how deep they are below the skin surface. Your GP can refer you to Salisbury Laser Clinic to be advised whether Pulsed Dye Laser treatment is likely to pale your red mark, or you can call us directly. NHS and private treatments are available depending on the nature and position of the mark.
How the laser works
Very bright light is fired by the laser at the red area to be removed. The laser light is absorbed by the red haemoglobin in blood vessels, which are damaged. This forms a bruise which clears over 7 - 14 days and reduces the colour. Best results are for red veins near the skin surface. A suntan, real or fake, may interfere with this process.
Number of treatments
Multiple treatments are often necessary although some small marks may only require one session. On the first visit several small test areas, about the size of a postage stamp, may be treated at different laser settings. At the next appointment the most effective setting may be used to carry out a larger treatment. Photographs are often taken before and after treatment to monitor progress.
How the treatment feels
Each shot of the laser feels like the flick of an elastic band. Some people feel like it's a big band and some people feel it's a small band. The pain is only short lived although the treated area may feel a little warm and swollen for a number of hours. Anaesthetic cream, local anaesthetic injection or a general anaesthetic may be arranged if necessary.
After treatment
The treated areas appear as dark circular bruises, 5 - 10 millimetres in diameter, which fade over 1 - 2 weeks. The appearance of the treated area may continue to improve over 2 - 3 months, so treatments are usually 2 - 3 months apart.
Examples:
Before Treatment |
After Treatment |
Port Wine Stain
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Port Wine Stain
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Spider Vein
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Spider Vein
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Leg Thread Veins
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Leg Thread VeinsÂ
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Facial Thread Veins
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Facial Thread VeinsÂ
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