Your Options For Birthmark Treatment
Birthmarks are frequently found and most are harmless, though all visible skin marks can affect confidence. Modern aesthetic medicine offers safe, clinically supported ways to reduce or remove birthmarks. At The Doctors Laser Clinic, our clinicians use both laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), selecting the most appropriate method for your skin and diagnosis.
What Causes Birthmarks?
Birthmarks are termed as such because they appear at birth or shortly afterwards. Some arise from extra pigment in the skin. Others come from blood vessels that developed differently. Types include:
- Pigmented birthmarks, such as café-au-lait spots, moles, or Mongolian spots
- Vascular birthmarks, such as port wine stains, salmon patches, or strawberry naevi
Pigmented marks relate to increased melanin production, whereas vascular marks arise from abnormal blood vessels close to the surface.
IPL for Birthmark Treatment
Intense Pulsed Light delivers controlled pulses of broad-spectrum light into the skin. Pigment or blood vessels absorb this light, then break down so the body clears residues over time.
- Best for lighter pigmented birthmarks and red blemishes
- Often chosen when the mark is more diffuse rather than sharply defined
- Minimal downtime, with redness and swelling usually fading within hours
IPL is sometimes termed as a “photofacial”, reflecting the camera-flash bursts of light during treatment. Patients report a clearer, more even tone after a course.
Laser for Birthmark Treatment
Laser devices emit a single, concentrated wavelength of light, which allows highly targeted work on deeper or more stubborn marks.
- Effective for vascular birthmarks such as port wine stains
- Adjustable settings treat different depths of skin tissue
- Options include ablative lasers for resurfacing and non-ablative or fractional lasers for deeper remodelling without removing the surface
Laser treatment often brings a little more downtime than IPL, particularly with ablative settings. Precise energy delivery makes lasers a strong choice for permanent vascular lesions.
Which Treatment Works Best?
Some birthmarks respond better to IPL, others to laser. For example:
- Café-au-lait spots – IPL or laser, depending on pigment depth
- Port wine stains – best managed with vascular-targeting lasers
- Small red blemishes – IPL is often sufficient
This overlap explains why The Doctors Laser Clinic offers both technologies. A single-modality clinic might steer patients toward in-house equipment, even when another method might deliver better results.
Number of Sessions and Downtime
- IPL – usually multiple sessions (3–6) spaced several weeks apart
- Laser – fewer sessions for some vascular lesions, though healing time is often longer
- Most patients experience mild redness and swelling only, though more intensive laser work might need a short recovery period
Safety and Risks of Treatment
Safety is, of course, a major concern with any skin procedure. Both IPL and laser are widely used in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, with strong evidence of effectiveness and safety when carried out by trained clinicians. As with any light-based therapy, there are risks to be aware of.Mild redness and swelling are the most frequent effects, usually settling within hours to days. Some patients experience temporary darkening or lightening of the treated skin. Rarely, blistering or scarring might occur, though this is uncommon when the correct device settings are used.Your skin type plays a role in how treatments behave. Darker tones or tanned skin require careful adjustment to reduce the chance of unwanted pigmentation changes. This is why a detailed consultation and test patch are part of the process at reputable clinics. We have been here for over 15 years now and are fully conversant in all skin-treatment risks.On balance, IPL and laser birthmark treatments are considered safe for most people when performed by experienced medical staff using medical-grade equipment in a well-established setting and using strict hygiene controls.
Why Choose The Doctors Laser Clinic?
Our medical team matches technology to presentation, not the other way round. We use medical-grade lasers and advanced IPL systems, and recommendations focus on the best chance of improvement for your skin. We are also a member of many industry bodies, registrations and associations that add extra layers of safety to our processes and procedures.If you want professional advice about a birthmark or another skin concern, expect clear guidance from us towards the safest, most effective option for your needs.Ready to talk about your birthmark? Contact at
01603 360360 The Doctors Laser Clinic today to book a consultation.
