It’s not unusual for both men and women to develop spider veins at some point in time. While these threadlike veins tend to be painless, it doesn’t make their arrival any less frustrating for those that are looking to maintain clear and healthy skin. For the vast majority of people, spider veins appear as a collection of red or blue lines on the surface of the skin and tend to cluster on the legs and around the face. Facial spider veins tend to be of particular cosmetic concern for many individuals and often lead to those individuals looking for intervention in the way of cosmetic treatment or services at a professional clinic. The reason for the cosmetic treatment of spider veins can range from these veins causing an appearance of flushing to noticeable discoloration in an area that’s very visible.
Understanding Facial Spider Veins
Spider veins develop when small vessels at the surface of the skin become damaged or stop working properly. Veins are designed to carry blood throughout the body using a series of valves to keep blood flowing in the right direction. When these valves malfunction, blood can begin to pool in certain areas of the vein, causing spider veins to show at the surface. Spider veins that develop on the legs are often the result of faulty valves or a pooling of blood that extends out from a larger, malfunctioning vein below the surface. Spider veins that develop on the face are thought to generally be caused by smaller blood vessels that burst under distress. Bursting may potentially be caused by excessive sun exposure or increased pressure within triggered by trauma, the natural aging process, or underlying skin conditions such as Rosacea. The development of spider veins tends to happen more frequently in women than in men and is more likely to happen during pregnancy or in those individuals who experience significant weight fluctuations and hormonal changes at one point or another.
Options for Treating Spider Veins
Whatever the cause for the development of spider veins may be, the world of modern cosmetic technology means that patients enjoy now, more than ever, a variety of options for reducing or eliminating the appearance of this common occurrence. While those suffering from spider veins on the legs will often be recommended compression stockings to improve blood flow to lower extremities and reduce the appearance of these veins, facial spider veins may require more intervention to reduce or eliminate. Fortunately, precise and specialized techniques can often be performed as out-patient procedures right in the comfort of the attending physician’s office in a short amount of time. There are many spider veins on the face treatment routes to choose from that fit into a patient’s preferences for treatment type and recovery.
Spider Veins on the Face Treatment Options with a Laser
A skilled cosmetic physician can easily treat spider veins that are less than 3 millimeters and close to the surface of the skin utilizing laser techniques that offer precise, safe, and successful results. Among these laser treatment options, many patients choose to undergo VeinWave or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments. As lasers are directed at the affected veins, they clot and dry, eventually being absorbed back into the body naturally. Laser treatment options can generally be performed anywhere from a 10-minute to 20-minute session and patients that go this route enjoy the added benefit of minimal risk of scarring or pigmentation alterations. Laser treatment options are popular amongst those patients looking for non-invasive routes to reducing the appearance of spider veins as this process does not require an injection of any type.
Sclerotherapy
Patients suffering from larger spider veins may require a treatment option like sclerotherapy to enjoy reduced or eliminated the appearance. This option is slightly more invasive than laser treatment options and requires the physician to inject a solution of sclerosant directly into the affected veins. The solution irritates the vein to the point of closure and collapse and eventually, the body is able to reabsorb the vein entirely. Depending on the results a patient is seeking, several sclerotherapy treatment session may be required to achieve the desired outcome. Due to the use of an injection, sclerotherapy comes with a higher risk of scarring than its’ laser treatment counterpart.
Schedule a Consultation Today
When you’re interested in learning more about treatment options for facial spider veins, or are interested in discussing how these options may be right for you, be sure to reach out to Dr. Wright and his team at the St. Louis Laser Vein Center. We’re committed to providing comprehensive care and all new patients will be scheduled for an initial consultation. We make sure these consultations include plenty of time set aside for asking questions, voicing concerns, and discussing preferences prior to a personalized treatment plan being put in place. Contact us today to begin your transformative journey to change!
