STORY BY JOY PRUDEK

PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Dermatology Department at St. Luke’s Wood River has added a Pulse Dye Laser to treat vascular cutaneous lesions, such as birthmarks, rosacea, facial redness, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, keloids, hypertrophic scars, and telangiectasis.

Adding the laser has also resulted in an expansion of the Dermatology clinic and dermatological care.

The laser can be used for a large range of patients, as vascular lesions are present in all ages. A particular focus will be on children with birthmarks. The laser is used for clinical and cosmetic procedures.

The Pulsed Dye Laser, or PDL, uses a concentrated beam of light that targets blood vessels in the skin. The light is converted into heat, destroying the blood vessel while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

The demand has been evident in the recent years, said St. Luke’s Wood River Dermatologist Dr. Garrett Coman: “This is the one of the most frequent referrals outside of our clinic. Adding this highly requested piece of equipment to St. Luke’s Wood River Hospital will benefit the whole Wood River Valley.”

The laser is housed in a newly remodeled patient room. The remodel of this room will expand the availability of all dermatology services for the Wood River Valley.

“We are thankful for the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation for funding this project and for the generosity of the community that makes it possible,” said Coman. “It is gratifying to be able to give back to the community through offering expanded services and availability.”

To schedule a dermatology appointment, contact 208-725-2171. To provide support to the St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation, contact Betsy Mullins, Development Manager, St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation at mullinse@slhs.org or 208-727-8419.

St. Luke’s Wood River always has a pair of smiling volunteers to assist you in getting to where you need to go.