01394 276662
Birthmark Removal
@ The Salon by Jennifer Louise
The Science
A birthmark is a congenital, benign irregularity on the skin which is present at birth or appears shortly after birth, usually in the first month. They can occur anywhere on the skin. Birthmarks are caused by overgrowth of blood vessels, melanocytes, smooth muscle, fat, fibroblasts, or keratinocytes.
The operator guides the visible light from the flash-lamp to the birthmark needing treatment. The unique AW3® system carefully filters this light in two ways to ensure that only light with the correct characteristics (wavelengths) is allowed to reach your skin.
Blood contains haemoglobin that absorbs the light and converts it into heat. This heat destroys the protein in the wall of the birthmark. As a result the mark will gradually, and safely, disappear after treatment. To ensure optimal light transmission, a thin layer of gel (similar to that used in ultrasound examinations) is applied to your skin before treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treatments do I need?
The number of treatments depends on the body site and the severity of the birth mark. Clinical studies have confirmed that 1-4 treatments usually are needed, and these are timed about one month apart.
Which areas can be treated?
Thread veins on all parts of your body can be treated. The most common treatments are for superficial marks in the facial, chest or leg areas.
As the treatment relies on absorption of light by the haemoglobin in the blood, the most effective results are seen with light skin. The lighter the skin, the more pronounced the contrast between the vessel and the skin, making treatment easier.
How long does treatment take?
The glass prism within the AW3 applicator that guides the light to the skin is 15mm by 50mm, so a large area can be targeted in one flash of light. Our system has the largest spot size on the market and is the only system to have auto flashes without delay. This mean doing a facial birth mark will typically only take 5 minutes.
How can I be sure this is safe?
Clinical trials documenting AW3 safety and effectiveness are carried out by leading doctors prior to the release of the product. The results of these tests are then published in respected, refereed medical journals. The settings used for your treatment will be based on the settings recommended by the clinicians who carried out the clinical trials.
Does it hurt?
Skin type is a fundamental effecting factor in this treatment as due to the high level of pigment in the skin. Tolerance of pain is very individual from person to person and machine to machine. We have a variety of machines including no pain machines and the sensation of each are completely different.
No anaesthetics are required, and most people describe the sensation as similar to that of a rubber band snapping onto the skin. You may find it comforting to cool the skin after the treatment.
Do I need to take any precautions?
The light used is a completely safe, visible light. Potentially harmful wavelengths are removed by our unique filtering system. Since tanning takes place by accumulation of pigment (melanin) in the skin, it is, however, important to avoid tanning (sun, solarium or self-tanning cream) before and during the treatment period. Otherwise your tanned skin will absorb more light, which makes treatment less effective.
Generally, no post-treatment care is needed. But people with sensitive skin may benefit from using a soothing cream for a few days after treatment. We recommend you limit sun exposure and use a sunscreen (SPF 60) for a few weeks following treatment.