Telangiectasia. This isn’t a term that most people hear very often, if ever. The most common name used to describe these tiny broken capillaries and blood vessels is spider veins. However, when we think of spider veins, we usually think of the webs of veins that develop on the legs. In reality, though, telangiectasia can occur nearly anywhere on the body where veins are positioned near the surface of the skin. This includes the face. Here, we’ll discuss why broken capillaries and blood vessels may occur and how, if you have them, your dermatologist can help.
We often see this condition develop in women and people who have experienced some type of trauma to the skin. Pregnant women may have an increased risk of developing telangiectases. When it occurs on the face, we usually see redness on the cheeks and nose. It may develop more easily in people with rosacea or with fair or sun-damaged skin. There is some evidence that the overuse of topical steroid creams may increase the chance of broken blood vessels or capillaries. If the condition does occur when using a topical corticosteroid cream, use should discontinue immediately.
While telangiectasia is not considered a serious medical problem, the condition can worsen to involve a wider surface area over time. People who have begun to notice these tiny veins on the face or body are advised to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen daily and to wear protective clothing when they intend to spend more than a short time outside. These strategies are helpful in preventing the problem from getting worse. But patients also want options that can help them correct visible blood vessels. When spider veins develop on the legs, people often turn to sclerotherapy, a form of injection therapy that closes off the visible veins. After sclerotherapy, the closed veins get absorbed as cellular debris. As this happens, the skin becomes clearer.
Sclerotherapy may be fine for the legs, but most people don’t like the idea of having this treatment done on their faces. At Advanced Laser & Skin Cancer Center in Teaneck, NJ, we treat telangiectasia using proven laser technology. The use of lasers has become commonplace for many cosmetic concerns, and different forms of laser light can be used to address specific problems. In the case of telangiectasia, the laser energy heats the small, superficial vessels to close them off. Once the veins are closed, the body clears them and the skin returns to a smoother, more radiant, vein-free state. Laser treatment may need to be repeated and it may take several weeks for the results to fully develop. However, patients may begin noticing the veins lightening within a week or two of their appointment.
Feel great about your skin again. Contact us at 201.836.9696 to schedule your consultation for vein treatment.