Port-wine stains are malformations of tiny blood vessels that connect the veins to the arteries (capillaries) located in the upper levels of the skin. These irregularly shaped patches range in color from light pink to red to dark red-violet and may darken with age. Port-wine stains, usually located on the neck, face. Port Wine Stains occur in .3% of births and occur equally among males and females.

Alternate Names : Nevus flammeus

Causes of Port Wine Stain

A port wine stain is a localised blood vessel problem. Tiny blood vessels can normally narrow (constrict) or widen (dilate) depending on circumstances. This allows different amounts of blood to the skin surface. The more blood, the redder the skin.

Symptoms of Port Wine Stain

Port-wine stains are present at birth and vary in size and shape.

Lesion is usually present at birth
Newborn infant with a flat pink to purplish lesion on skin
Most commonly seen on face and neck
Adult with darkly red to purplish lesion
Is usually slightly more reddish to purplish lesion, flat to slightly raised in older children.

Diagnosed of Port Wine Stain

The diagnosis of Port Wine Stain is usually based on a physical appearance. Physicians should consider possible associated syndromes, including Sturge-Weber syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome, Bonnet-Bechaume-Blanc syndrome, Cobb syndrome, and Proteus syndrome.

Treatment of Port Wine Stain