Do port wine stains cover hair follicles or did the laser treatment ruin them? How can I fix this?

Question

Facial hair growth on face with birthmark - Hello I was born with a port wine stain on my cheek and I received one laser treatment when I was like in 8th or 9th grade I don’t remember the laser type I’m 31 now. My facial hair doesn’t grow the same as the side of my face without the birthmark. Do port wine stains cover hair follicles or did the laser treatment ruin them ? Hair still grows but not the same amount as the opposite side and it doesn’t grow high up on my cheek as much. How can I fix this ? Oils ? Etc.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello! My name is Jessica, I am a physician assistant, and one of the providers at Aesthetic Skin in Winnetka and Chicago. This is a great question. Port wine stains can indeed affect hair growth in the areas they cover, as the vascular nature of these stains may disrupt normal hair follicle function. Additionally, if you underwent laser treatment, it’s possible that the procedure could have impacted the hair follicles in the treated area, leading to reduced hair growth compared to the unaffected side of your face. Exosome injections may offer a promising solution for stimulating hair growth in areas where it has been diminished. Exosomes are tiny vesicles that play a key role in cell communication and regeneration. They contain growth factors and proteins that can promote healing and tissue repair, making them a valuable option for revitalizing hair follicles. By injecting exosomes into the area affected by the port wine stain, you may be able to enhance the growth potential of the existing hair follicles and encourage new hair growth. I hope this helps and best of luck!

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Port wine stains (PWS) do not inherently cover or destroy hair follicles, but laser treatment for PWS can affect hair growth depending on the type and parameters of the laser used.

Port wine stains are vascular birthmarks involving capillaries in the skin and typically do not directly involve hair follicles. Therefore, the birthmark itself does not cover or destroy hair follicles. However, laser treatments for PWS, especially pulsed dye lasers (the most common type used), target blood vessels and can cause localized skin changes. While these lasers are designed to spare hair follicles, some collateral damage to follicles can occur, especially if the laser parameters or treatment sessions are aggressive or if the laser energy affects pigmented structures near follicles.

Hair follicles contain pigmented cells that can absorb laser energy, and if the follicular stem cells are damaged, this can lead to reduced hair growth or altered hair patterns on the treated area. The fact that your facial hair grows differently on the side with the PWS and laser treatment suggests some degree of follicular impact from the laser rather than the birthmark itself.

How to address altered hair growth after laser treatment:

Hair still grows, indicating follicles are not completely destroyed, so some recovery or stimulation might be possible.
Topical oils (e.g., castor oil, rosemary oil) or hair growth stimulants (like minoxidil) may help improve hair density, but evidence is limited and results vary.
Consulting a dermatologist or hair specialist is advisable for evaluation and possible treatments such as microneedling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, or low-level laser therapy, which can promote hair regrowth in damaged follicles.
Avoid further aggressive laser treatments on the area without specialist advice, as this may worsen follicular damage.
In summary, the port wine stain itself does not cover or destroy hair follicles, but laser treatment can cause some follicular damage leading to altered hair growth. Treatment options to improve hair growth include topical agents and dermatologic procedures aimed at follicle stimulation

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Lasers often destroy or impair hair. it depends on the type of laser they used. I don’t know what laser you had used so it’s difficult to give a precise answer. but yes, vascular lasers often impair growth and it’s more common than once was thought. There are not many highly successful options but be sure to see an expert. there are many many questions that need to be asked here to get all the information. Topical minoxidil and oral minoxidil can be considered for some but it depends where exactly the PwS was located. hair transplants can be considered in some cases.

Do port wine stains cover hair follicles or did the laser treatment ruin them? How can I fix this?

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Do port wine stains cover hair follicles or did the laser treatment ruin them? How can I fix this?

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