Both intense pulsed light and laser systems emit wavelength of light which are readily absorbed by blood vessels. These are then heated to a point at which they are destroyed. Following treatment, the vessels quickly clear as they are absorbed by the body, leaving little or no trace of the original lesion.
Lasers work by selectively targeting certain chromophores; a chromophore being simply something that absorbs light. There are three 3 main chromophores in the skin; melanin, haemoglobin and water. This means that vascular lesions such as Campbell de Morgan spots, Port Wine Stains and visible thread veins can be targeted by lasers or light systems that target haemoglobin. If the wavelength and pulse duration of light is chosen correctly, then these lesions can be removed or faded effectively, whilst ensuring that the surrounding tissue is unaffected.
