Port-Wine Stains Can Return After Laser Treatment

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To objectively assess the long-term efficacy of pulse-dyed laser, the researchers obtained color measurements from 51 people who had undergone laser therapy to lighten port-wine stains. The average follow-up was 9.5 years.

On average, stains did tend to darken again over time. "Although the laser-treated port-wine stains were still significantly lighter than before the treatment, significant re-darkening had occurred over the past 10 years," Huikeshoven said. "This means the treatment effect is not entirely persistent."

Still, most patients remained happy with the treatment. The study found that 59 percent of those treated with pulsed-dye laser were satisfied with their results, and an equal number felt that their stain hadn't become darker since their last treatment. About 35 percent felt their stain had become darker since treatment.

"This may not be forever," said Dr. Seth Orlow, chairman of the department of dermatology at the New York University Medical Center. "The bottom line is that not everybody's results are permanent, but that's not the end of the world. You can get touched up again," he explained.

All three experts concurred that laser treatment is still the gold standard treatment for port-wine stains, and the procedure has a very low incidence of adverse events.

More information

Read more about port-wine stains at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.