What can be treated by pulsed dye laser?
The pulsed dye laser is best for treating blood vessel-related problems. Some examples of conditions that can be treated with this laser include birthmarks like port wine stain, spider veins, fine vessels (also known as telangiectasia) on the face, around the nose and legs, and cherry angioma (these appear as bright red spots that are sometimes slightly raised).
It is also an effective treatment for red acne scars and marks, hypertrophic scars and keloids, and can help improve facial redness caused by rosacea.
How does the pulsed dye laser work and what can I expect at each treatment session?
The pulsed dye laser emits pulsed dye laser energy that penetrated through the skin and directly targets the haemoglobin in the blood vessels, hence directly taking care of vascular growths and conditions.
In most people, no anaesthesia is required. A topical anaesthetic cream can be applied to reduce discomfort if needed. The duration of pulsed dye laser treatment depends on the extent of treatment required. The whole process is usually completed within minutes.
Is there any down time for pulsed dye laser treatment?
For some conditions like port wine stain, pulsed dye laser treatment can result in temporary bruising that usually resolves in a week. This bruising is desirable and allows better results for the treatment. For some conditions such as rosacea, bruising usually does not occur and downtime is minimal.
