Sun on birthmark? Is it bad for it?

I just read in a post that a doctor told a woman with a port wine stain to stay out of the sun. I have never been told this. My leg does swell in heat, but I am careful to jump in water and keep my leg up. But, does the sun do any actual breaking down of the capilleries?

Let me know

I'm not sure about the answer for that. I was told to keep my son out of the sun during laser treatments because it causes the skin to be tough and the lasers can't penetrate through the tan.
Jinny

[nickbar]

HI JINNY,

I was told the same thing.

Corinne

I am just talking about in general. I am not getting laser, have no lesions just a smooth cluster of pink clouds ALL OVER the back of my leg.

I have never heard to stay out of the sun, yet I have never had a doctor that told me much about birthmark care. ???

I've heard to treat it like the rest of you, too much sun is always bad.

My daughter has a facial pws and I will tell you what I was told by her doctor.
If you are currently treating the pws, you can not have a tan because the laser will be absorbed by the tanned skin and will be unable to penetrate down to the vessels that it is trying to destroy.
I was also told that infants tend to respond well to laser because the skin has not been exposed to the elements yet and "thickened" or toughened up.Also in infants the skin is thinner and the vessels are still small as the child is small.

Elena