There are two main types of vascular formations on the skin: capillary angiodysplasia and hemangioma. Basically, you can find nevuses formed from capillaries.
The greatest prevalence of such a malformation was among newborns. As a rule, it does not cause any complications, besides a cosmetic defect, but in some cases, without appropriate treatment, there is a chance of bleeding, manifestation and development of infection.
Description
Capillary angiodysplasia is a consequence of abnormal formation of the circulatory system and is a wine, purple or bright red spots on the skin. The main difference from hemangiomas is the formation of large spots, which increase as a person grows.
With age, the surface of the nevi can become knotty and acquire a darker shade. Capillary angiodysplasia, the photo of which is presented below, does not harm the human body, but due to its location in open areas of the body, brings moral discomfort and can contribute to the occurrence of complexes.
This pathology belongs to the category of congenital malformations, which appears due to the expansion of a large number of vessels. Unlike capillary hemangiomas, such spots are already present on the skin of a newborn baby and are quite large.
As noted earlier, capillary angiodysplasia does not protrude above the skin, has an irregular shape and bright shades of purple and red. Most often, it forms on the face, localization in other parts of the body is also possible. The presence of extensive formations may indicate the existence of more dangerous defects.
Diagnostics
Capillary angiodysplasia, the treatment of which is selected individually for each person, is detected not only through external examination. As a standard diagnostic method, Doppler scanning of veins and arteries is used. In addition, an important role in the formulation of the disease is played by ultrasound examination of adjacent tissues. The doctor must have sufficient experience in examining patients with a similar pathology, and the quality of the diagnostic equipment is also of particular importance.
After capillary angiodysplasia has been determined, the type of formation and the depth of tissue damage are established. In severe forms, computer angiography and magnetic resonance imaging are recommended. The main disadvantage of such a diagnosis is the high cost, but unlike the usual ultrasound diagnostics, they allow you to accurately identify the type of disease and the degree of damage.
Capillary angio-dysplasia of the face: treatment
Previously, vascular formations were treated only in severe forms, this was due to the fact that burning and surgical removal contributed to the formation of deep scars. Today, medical lasers are used to solve this problem, which do not damage healthy tissues and are able to selectively coagulate blood vessels. This allows treatment without consequences in the form of damage to the skin and scars. As a rule, lasers emitting green and yellow rays are used. Their effect is the free passage through the epidermis and accumulation in the capillary lumen, due to which thermal energy is formed that covers the vessel.
Types of lasers
Not only lasers emitting green and yellow light, but also infrared devices are quite common. The latter are somewhat inferior in effectiveness due to less absorption of radiation by the blood.
Medical lasers are classified according to the spectrum of radiation and design features, of particular importance is the diameter of the spot. Devices emitting a small spot are suitable for the treatment of minor formations. Their use for extensive nevi is impractical due to slow processing and low efficiency. Lasers with a larger light spot (from 4 mm) can quickly stop even large angio-dysplasias in a short time. Their advantage is also the low degree of dispersion of radiation, due to which they penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin. An increase in the effectiveness of treatment is achieved through cold protection of the epidermis and a minimum pulse duration.
Treatment features
Capillary angio-dysplasia of the face and body is stopped with a laser using local anesthetics and does not require the use of general anesthesia, unlike surgical excision. The procedure has no contraindications and does not contribute to the formation of crusts and flaky surfaces. During treatment, pain is absent, in some cases a slight burning sensation is possible. To completely remove the birthmark, several procedures are necessary with an interval of 3-4 weeks, their number directly depends on the size of the formation. Capillary angiodysplasia acquires a lighter shade with each procedure until it disappears completely.
Other treatments
The specificity of treatment is determined depending on the age of the patient, complications, spot sizes and form of education. The greatest effectiveness is observed during treatment in childhood, this helps to prevent the development of complications and changes in the nutrition of adjacent tissues.
Sclerotherapy is the best option for the relief of venous forms of angiodysplasia. It is performed by filling the affected areas with a special sclerosing agent. Thus, complications arising from surgical treatment can be avoided.
Capillary angiodysplasia: causes
The main factor in the appearance of wine stains is the adverse effect on the child during fetal development. Hormonal disorders, the use of drugs with a teratogenic effect, and infectious diseases carried by the mother during pregnancy have an effect. Also, chromosomal abnormalities and other important factors can become the cause. All this affects the formation of the circulatory system of the unborn child and the capillary bed. The result is arteriovenous formations that impede the nutrition of the skin and blood circulation at the spot.
Venous angiodysplasia
Clinical symptoms of the disease can occur at any age due to intoxication, trauma, pregnancy or hormonal changes. At the place of formation, blood circulation is disturbed, venous insufficiency and frequent blood stasis occur. A negative effect is exerted on the arterial channels. In particular, the elasticity of the walls of the arteries is reduced, their thinning and atrophy is also possible. A frequent complication is insufficient blood supply in the affected area. There are certain symptoms that allow you to diagnose a disease:
- a large number of spider veins on the skin;
- varicose processes, extremely rare in children;
- excessive sweating;
- hypertrophy of the surrounding soft tissues;
- with lesions of the limbs, intolerance of increased loads is noted.