Port wine stainThis reddish-purple birthmark is a major cosmetic blemish which can occur anywhere on the body. It is caused by an increased number of blood vessels under the skin’s surface, and becomes darker and more lumpy with time.Today, laser treatment of birthmarks is common. Previously, lasers such as the argon were used, but these caused several problems, especially scarring. Copper vapour lasers and pulsed dye lasers are now used to treat wine stains. This should be done early in life as the results are superior. In addition, major psychological problems can be avoided.
Strawberry birthmarksThese dark red, strawberry-like growths usually appear in the first few weeks of life, enlarge rapidly, and may bleed. They may cause major cosmetic disfigurement and can even obstruct vital organs such as the eyes. Because most strawberry birthmarks resolve by the age of seven, they largely go untreated unless there is some obstruction to breathing or to the vision. Older treatments such as radiation therapy were abandoned as they caused scarring. Nowadays, with sophisticated lasers such as the pulsed dye, the copper vapour and the Nd-Yag available, these marks can be successfully treated. This is best done early in childhood.
Pale brown birthmarksPale brown birthmarks are often due to an accumulation of pigment but do not have an increased risk of malignant melanoma (potentially deadly tumour). They occur at birth or appear soon after and are not generally very visible. These birthmarks often become more noticeable during summer as they grow darker following sun exposure. During winter they grow paler. They do not usually require treatment although some people have them removed for cosmetic reasons.
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Progesterone therapy is one of the most controversial therapies for PMS, yet it is one of the most widely used. Supporters of British researcher Dr Katharina Dalton, who has researched the treatment for over 30 years, are largely responsible for its widespread use.Despite the enthusiasm, proper studies of progesterone versus a dummy pill have failed to show any benefit with this hormone therapy. But because a few women do seem to benefit many doctors feel if s worth a try if other methods have failed.Dr Dalton and other doctors who follow her teaching believe that natural progesterone should not be taken by mouth because it breaks down before it has a chance to work. So vaginal or rectal ‘suppositories’ – a gel-based ‘pellet inserted into the vagina or rectum – are used instead. Sometimes daily injections are given and work is being done on a tablet form.The dose is 400mg to 800mg taken twice a day, starting on day 12 of the cycle. Treatment usually lasts for a minimum of six months but some women may need to carry on for up to two years or until the menopause if they are over 40.Progestogens are synthetic forms of progesterone which can be taken as tablets by mouth.Dydrogesterone is the type of progestogen most often prescribed. The main drawback of progestogens is that some women find they tend to produce more side-effects than natural progesterone, especially weight gain and irregular periods.Critics of progestogen treatment say its chemical structure is so different from that of progesterone that it does not work and actually makes PMS worse Once again, though, there have been no studies to support or refute this claim.*47\120\4*