Port Wine Stains and Sturge-weber Syndrome

It is important for general practitioners to recognize cutaneous port-wine stains as these could signify important association with Sturge Weber syndrome, where neurological and ocular complications are likely. As importantly, advances in technology in the past two decades have made laser the standard of care for the management of port-wine stains. Port-wine stains are venous ectasias that are present at birth, but changes colour from pale to pink in the newborn to a deep red or dark purple colour (as in port wine) later. As port-wine stains can be progressive, laser treatments should be done early to prevent thickening and nodularity of the skin.