WHICH SKIN DISORDERS ARE ELIGIBLE?Laser therapy is suitable for red skin discolorations caused by excessive blood vessels or vasodilation, such as port-wine stains, rosacea, spider veins, and telangiectasias. Experience in recent years has shown that small, dilated varicose veins in the legs do not respond to laser therapy. It has also been shown that port-wine stains do not always disappear completely. They often lighten in color, making them less noticeable and potentially easier to camouflage. It is also important to know that some port-wine stains do not respond to treatment. This is often related to the stain's red color, its depth, and its location.HOW DOES THE TREATMENT WORK?Before starting the therapy, slides are taken. These slides are taken again throughout the treatment period to assess the effect. It is important to first undergo a trial treatment. A small area is treated with different energy levels. After two months, the strength that produced the best results is assessed. Treatment then begins. Note: Sometimes a trial treatment is not possible due to the spot being too small or due to color differences in the spot (dark and light areas within the spot). In that case, treatment is started immediately, using an average strength, which has been proven effective for most people.SAFETYThe laser light penetrates very superficially into the skin and penetrates no deeper than a few millimeters. It has no effect on internal organs, and the treatment is also safe to use during pregnancy. Laser light is harmful to the eyes. Both you and your caregiver will be provided with eye protection goggles.PAINThe treatment is certainly not painless. It feels like a series of injections into the skin. A burning sensation may also occur. Cooling with wet compresses or ice cubes (in a plastic bag inside a washcloth) will help relieve the pain.NORMAL EFFECTS AFTER TREATMENTThe treatment causes a gray discoloration of the treated area. This will disappear on its own within one to two weeks. Swelling may also occur (especially in areas around the eye, chin, and lip). Cooling will help prevent this to some extent. Blistering and associated crusting may also occur. The skin is delicate after the treatment and must therefore be treated with care. Leave the skin alone as much as possible. Gentle washing is fine. Cover-up is allowed, but do not rub off the cover-up, as this can damage the skin.LASER AND SUNLIGHTSunlight is not good for skin that has been treated or will be treated with laser light.
You can go outside when the sun is shining, but use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on the treated area. Direct sunbathing or tanning beds are strongly discouraged. Hyperpigmentation (brown discoloration) may develop, which can last for up to a year. Treatment may then be canceled because the area to be treated is too tanned. Therefore, always use sunscreen for up to one year after the last laser treatment. Sometimes hyperpigmentation can develop without any clear connection to sunlight. This can sometimes occur with port-wine stains on the legs.LASER TREATMENT IN CHILDRENTechnically, children with port-wine stains can be treated at a very young age. However, the problem is that from a certain age, the child begins to experience the treatment as a psychological trauma. The treatment is painful. Children have to be held. They can't see anything through those glasses. The psychological damage of the treatment can then be much worse than the problems associated with having a port-wine stain.
You can wait for treatment until your child is a little older and can decide for themselves. Treatment under anesthesia is also an option. Research has shown that starting treatment at a young or older age does not affect the outcome.LASER THERAPY IN CHILDREN UNDER GENERAL ANESTHETICOnce a month on a Monday, laser treatment takes place under general anesthesia. Your child will be put under general anesthesia and will need to sleep in the recovery room after the treatment. Your child can then return home. If possible, bring extra support so you won't be alone if your child becomes unwell on the journey home. As a parent, you are welcome to stay during the induction of the anesthesia, but not during the treatment. Once the treatment is finished and your child wakes up, you can join them again. Your child may feel a little lethargic after such a treatment.
The advantage of treatment under general anesthesia is that the entire area can be treated at once,
which is less traumatic for the child. It's important to know that if your child has a cold (even if they don't feel ill), the treatment cannot take place due to problems with the anesthesia. It's also important to inform us if your child has recently taken any medication, has been ill, or has been vaccinated.
Before the treatment under general anesthesia, a trial treatment (without general anesthesia) will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the laser therapy. You will also be referred to the pre-assessment department for further explanation about the anesthesia and for examination of your child.REIMBURSEMENT OF LASER TREATMENT BY HEALTH INSURANCELaser treatment for port-wine stains is currently covered by health insurance. Other "red skin conditions," such as rosacea and telangiectasia, are generally not covered by your insurance. We advise you to inquire with your insurance company about possible reimbursement for treatment costs, so you won't be faced with unexpectedly high costs. |
