Port-Wine-StainÒAssociated Dermatitis: Implications for Cutaneous Vascular Laser Therapy

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Port-Wine-StainÒAssociated Dermatitis: Implications for Cutaneous Vascular Laser Therapy
Issue online:
05 Sep 2007
To cite this article: Margaret A. Fonder B.S., Adam J. Mamelak M.D., Rebecca A. Kazin M.D., Bernard A. Cohen M.D. (2007)
Port-Wine-Stain-Associated Dermatitis: Implications for Cutaneous Vascular Laser Therapy
Pediatric Dermatology 24 (4), 376Ò379.
doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2007.00453.x
Blackwell Synergy

Margaret A. Fonder, B.S., Adam J. Mamelak, M.D., Rebecca A. Kazin, M.D., and Bernard A. Cohen, M.D.

Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

Address correspondence to Bernard A. Cohen, M.D., Pediatric Dermatology, David Rubenstein Children's Health Care Building, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, or e-mail: bcohen2@jhmi.edu.

Abstract
Abstract: Port-wine stains are congenital vascular malformations affecting 0.3% to 0.5% of infants. Dermatitis occurring exclusively or most severely within port-wine stains has been described in the literature. Traditionally, topical corticosteroid therapy has been used for the treatment of dermatitis, while pulseddye laser treatment is considered a safe and effective means of lightening the appearance of congenital port-wine stains. To describe the development of port-wine stain-associated dermatitis as well as a rational treatment approach to these patients, we studied three children with facial, limb, or truncal port-wine stains who developed dermatitis within the congenital vascular malformation either prior to or during treatment with pulseddye laser. Laser therapy of dermatitis-affected areas was subsequently deferred pending resolution of the dermatitis with topical corticosteroid or topical calcineurin inhibitor treatment. While pulseddye laser therapy is an effective means of lightening port-wine stains and achieving lasting resolution of any associated dermatitis, this therapy to dermatitis-affected areas should be postponed until the inflammation resolves to minimize the risk of laser-associated adverse effects.

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