Facial Vein Treatments

The skin care specialists at our center are leading authorities on facial vein treatments. In fact, our founder and medical director Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman is world-renowned for his pioneering research on vein therapy and has published numerous highly-regarded research studies, manuscripts, and textbooks on the subject.

There are differences between the types of visible veins that can form on the face and our dermatologists take this into account when determining a treatment plan. We have the most state-of-the-art technology available to safely and effectively diminish various types of broken facial veins.

What Are Facial Spider Veins?

Spider veins are blood vessels that have dilated due to weak blood vessel walls. The weakened walls expand, allowing more blood to pool into the vein, making them more visible from the surface of the skin. When they are red they are known as telangiectasias and when they are blue, they are known as reticular veins.

Spider veins are generally smaller veins that often form on the cheeks,  nose,  and chin. Reticular veins are larger, less common types of facial veins, often appearing on the temples and forehead.

While Facial veins are fairly common as we age, certain factors may put you at an increased risk for having visible veins, such as the following:

• Rosacea
• Fair skin
• Genetics
• Sun damage
• Alcohol intake

Common Risk Factors For Unsightly Veins

Certain other factors may also increase the risk of having visible facial veins.

Rosacea

Some people suffer from a type of facial redness that includes inflammation, acne-like pimples, and swelling called rosacea. It can form on the forehead, the chin, cheeks, and nose. Rosacea can also have red facial telangiectasias. They tend to get worse with heat, sun exposure, alcohol and eating hot and/or spicy foods.

Genetics

If one’s parents or grandparents had visible facial veins, there’s a good chance that the ensuing generations will, too. Rosacea is especially common with those of Scotch-Irish heritage.

Sun Damage

The damage that UV rays can cause to the skin can also affect deeper blood vessels. In addition to causing wrinkles or rough texture from damaging the skin’s outer layer, UV rays also cause the tiny, frail capillaries just below the skin’s surface to weaken and break more easily. Sun damage can lead to spider veins.

Hormone Imbalance

During pregnancy, the mother has increased blood flow and increased estrogen and other hormones, which can cause her veins to enlarge and form spider veins.

Hormone changes due to birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy may also cause similar vascular issues.

Physical Stress

Some activities or certain bodily functions that put stress on the facial skin can lead to vein breakage. Patients with allergies who sneeze a lot, for example, are more susceptible to facial veins. People who have had injuries to their face, such as athletes and those who have had surgery are also more vulnerable, particularly if they suffer multiple injuries that resulted in bruising or lacerations.

Lifestyle Habits

Research suggests that they can develop due to several common habits and activities:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Excessive sun exposure
• Previous surgery
• Radiation treatment
• Topical or systemic steroid use

Preventative Measures

Often, a disorder or condition with no clear-cut causes also has few preventative measures. Biological aging cannot be delayed, but following a good daily skin care routine that includes sunscreen, moisturizers, and mild cleansers can certainly reduce the chances, and perhaps the impact, of forming facial veins.

Another measure is avoiding overexposure to the sun. Otherwise, Cosmetic Laser Dermatology has a variety of treatment options that are safe and effective in treating facial veins in San Diego.

Learn more about spider veins at WebMD.com.

There is little to no discomfort after the laser treatments. In some cases, patients may experience some swelling, redness or blistering, and the skin might feel tender for a few days. However, applying ice to the treated area can help to minimize swelling and inflammation. Our doctors will answer any post-procedure questions you may have.

Treatment Benefits

• Safe, effective treatment for unwanted veins
• Painless procedure
• Safe for most skin types
• Alternative to sclerotherapy

Lasers For Treatment

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology we own multiple lasers, which ensures that we have the right laser to treat each patient’s individual needs. The following lasers are used to treat veins on the face:

PDL/Nd:Yag combination

• Cynergy

Nd:Yag long pulsed dye lasers

• Cool Touch Varia
• Appogee Elite
• Cynergy

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

• Lumenis One

Pulse Dye Lasers (PDL)

• Vbeam or Vstar

CTEV (Intravascular Laser)

• The CTEV laser is actually put inside of the veins to treat it.  It is a very advanced technique which Dr. Goldman helped develop.

While all of the different lasers can seem confusing at first, don’t worry! Your doctor will be able to choose the most appropriate laser for you.  We just want to show you that we have all of the possible lasers you might need, so no matter what your individual situation is we will be able to treat you.

CoolTouch™ Varia Treatment

While there are several different types of lasers that can be used to treat facial veins, one of the best treatments for facial veins is called CoolTouch™ Varia. The CoolTouch Varia is a non-invasive long-pulsed laser procedure in which the experienced dermatologist can specifically target the unwanted veins without damaging the surrounding tissue. This state-of-the-art laser is effective at targeting small, thin veins as well as deeper, dark veins and there is no downtime after treatment.

When your San Diego dermatologist uses the laser, he or she will target the specific problem areas with the light. Following, the blood vessels will then absorb that light energy, stop working, and be slowly absorbed by your body. The result? No more visible facial veins! 

Often, a disorder or condition with no clear-cut causes also has few preventative measures. Biological aging cannot be delayed, but following a good daily skin care routine that includes sunscreen, moisturizers, and mild cleansers can certainly reduce the chances, and perhaps the impact, of forming facial veins.