Birthmarks

Addressing birthmarks with gentle, noninvasive laser treatments is one of the most effective ways to achieve a more even skin tone. With laser treatments, we can minimize the appearance of birthmarks to improve your self-esteem and appearance for lasting results. We can also improve the appearance of brown spots and freckles with a single treatment or a series of treatments with minimal downtime. At SkinZone Medical, Dr. Hannah Vu offers a range of laser treatments to reduce unwanted spots and marks to achieve brighter skin. Our noninvasive lasers renew your skin with gentle pulses of light that increase your collagen levels to reduce unwanted pigmentation.

Contact either of our offices online or call us directly to learn more about how our well-tolerated, minimally invasive treatments can brighten your skin.

About Birthmarks

Birthmarks are a common skin condition, and skin lesions are common in newborns. ⁽¹⁾ However, they can develop later in childhood as well. Approximately 10% of infants are born with vascular birthmarks ⁽²⁾, and depending on their placement on the body, patients may wish to reduce their appearance later in life for a more even skin tone. With gentle laser treatments, we can address them for long-lasting results. Skin resurfacing treatments are a popular and effective treatment for addressing hyperpigmentation. Specialists performed more than 3.5 million skin resurfacing treatments in 2023 to help patients improve their appearance. ⁽³⁾ There are several different types of birthmarks that Dr. Vu can address:

IPL (Intense Pulse Light)

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a photorejuvenation treatment that increases the collagen in your skin. Collagen helps your skin maintain its structure, and when it declines, it is common to experience increased pigmentation. By increasing your skin’s collagen levels, we can reduce the appearance of birthmarks to help you achieve a more even skin tone.

VBeam

VBeam laser treatments can address discoloration, including several other skin concerns like wrinkles, blue veins, rosacea, acne, and scars. There are two different VBeam treatments to help you improve the appearance of your skin:

Tri-Alex (Alex TriVantage)

Tri-Alex is a laser that administers several different wavelengths of energy to resurface your skin, including 1064, 532, and 755 nm. This flexible treatment can reduce pigmentation and brown spots significantly. It is also strong enough to reduce the appearance of tattoos. The laser is also a Q-switch, meaning it delivers short, powerful bursts of laser energy to help your body reduce discoloration while preserving the surrounding tissue.

Red Light

Red light therapy can address signs of skin aging and discoloration with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The photobiomodulation treatment can help renew your skin on a cellular level by improving circulation, reducing bacteria, addressing inflammation, and improving your skin tone. When Dr. Vu applies LED light to the skin, your cells transform it into energy (adenosine triphosphate) to improve your skin tone and reduce the appearance of birthmarks. ⁽⁴⁾

Fraxel CO2

Fraxel CO2 treatments can reduce pigmentation with tiny beams of light that penetrate your skin barrier to raise your skin’s collagen levels. We can administer different wavelengths to your skin, making it an ideal treatment for a range of different skin tones. Longer wavelengths can also address darker skin tones more effectively because they preserve the surrounding skin, reducing the risk of lightening tissue around the birthmark. ⁽⁵⁾

CO2 Laser

CO2 Lasers can resurface your skin to reduce the appearance of birthmarks as well as fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and age spots. CO2 lasers increase the collagen in your skin and accelerate skin cell turnover to reveal fresh, beautiful skin for natural-looking results. We can customize the treatment for your unique needs and address multiple skin concerns during a single treatment.

RF (Radiofrequency) Technology

RF (radiofrequency) energy increases the collagen (protein) levels in your skin to reduce unwanted pigmentation and help your skin maintain its structure and elasticity. We can administer radiofrequency energy to the skin to reduce the appearance of birthmarks. The RF energy creates heat, which increases your skin’s collagen levels to renew your skin and diminish unwanted pigmentation.

Benefits

Laser treatments result in consistent, visible changes after just a single session or a series of treatments, depending on the condition of your skin. With treatments for birthmarks, you can enjoy benefits like:

Candidates & Consultation

If you would like to reduce the appearance of birthmarks for a more even skin tone, you are likely a good candidate for laser treatments. The best candidates are nonsmokers in good overall health. You will need to be prepared to take good care of your skin. You will also need to have realistic expectations about what we can achieve with the procedure. During your consultation, Dr. Vu will examine your skin to determine the best type of treatment for your aesthetic goals. Depending on the type of birthmark you have, you may need a series of treatments performed a few weeks apart. Depending on your goals, she can also recommend additional treatments to address sun damage, melasma, or acne.

Preparation & Treatment Process

If you would like to address facial birthmarks, we will need to ask about your skincare routine to help you prepare for the best results. Patients will generally need to:

If you regularly use retinoids, we may also recommend changing your skincare routine temporarily before you receive treatment. Many patients receive treatment at least 1-2 weeks before important events, since some patients experience mild skin irritation afterward. Your treatment process will depend on the type of birthmark treatment you receive and whether or not you will need a series of treatments. On the day of your appointment, we will cleanse your skin and apply the laser in an even pattern to help your body break up the pigmentation.

After Your Treatment

After your treatment, you must take good care of your skin to prevent damage that could affect your results. We can also recommend the most effective skincare routine to help you take good care of your skin.

You can enjoy a more even skin tone by addressing pigmentation from birthmarks with laser treatments. Since the treatments do not require anesthesia or incisions, downtime is minimal, and you can return to most of your normal activities immediately afterward as long as you avoid excessive sun exposure. However, we recommend that you do not schedule the treatment right before important events, since some patients experience redness and/or skin irritation.

Corresponding Procedures

Acne

Acne treatments address inflammatory breakouts affecting skin quality, tone, and texture. Untreated acne can also lead to scarring that affects your complexion and self-esteem. Dr. Vu can address acne, such as cysts, pimples, and whiteheads, anywhere on the body. If acne is causing embarrassment, noninvasive treatments are an effective way to address it and prevent further breakouts that could affect the quality of your skin.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a treatment that reduces unwanted hair growth by altering the structure of your hair follicles with gentle laser energy. The laser energy disrupts your hair growth pattern with a handheld applicator. You may feel some warmth during the treatment, but it is generally well-tolerated and comfortable. Afterwards, you can enjoy smoother skin.

Scar & Stretch Mark Removal

Scar and stretch mark removal reduces unwanted pigmentation from injuries. Stretch marks can occur when your skin becomes stretched from pregnancy or weight fluctuations. Scars are common after surgery, acne, and injuries. Dr. Vu can address pigmentation without surgery or harsh chemical treatments. She can also address several different types of scars, including raised (hypertrophic) and sunken (atrophic) scars. By raising the collagen levels in your skin, Dr. Vu can reduce their appearance and create a more even skin tone.

To learn more, see the blog!

The Cost of Birthmark Treatment in Santa Ana

The cost of birthmark treatments will depend on the condition of your skin and whether or not you will need a series of treatments. We can provide an all-inclusive quote during your consultation and discuss financing to help make your treatment more accessible.

Contact either of our offices to schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can help you address birthmarks for a more even skin tone. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call either of our locations directly:

FAQ

References

1. Ryan E, Warren L. Birthmarks–identification and management. Australian Family Physician. 2012;41(5):274-277. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22558616/
2. Mahajan P, Bergstrom KL, Phung TL, Metry DW. The genetics of vascular birthmarks. Clinics in dermatology. 2022;40(4):313-321. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.02.006
3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
4. Dunn J, Grider MH. Physiology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). PubMed. Published February 13, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553175/
5. Cole P, Hatef D, Kaufman Y, Pozner J. Laser Therapy in Ethnic Populations. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2009;23(03):173-177. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1224796