Overview
Visible facial veins, otherwise known as telangectasias, spider angiomas and benign vascular lesions, occur because of dilation of blood vessels in the face, according to DermaNetwork. Usually, facial veins develop in fair-skinned people during their fourth or fifth decade. While the exact cause of visible facial veins is not known, they are associated with normal aging, sun exposure, liver disease, steroid use, trauma, radiation therapy and genetics. Many treatments exist for reducing or eliminating visible facial veins.
Identification
Some facial veins (telangectasias) appear as red lines in the skin, while others show up as a generalized redness. Still others (spider angiomas) have a central red dot (called the body) with small, thin red lines radiating from the center, says DermaNetwork. Crutchfield Dermatology advises that when a person applies gentle pressure to these lesions with his finger and quickly withdraws pressure, he might see the blood vessel refill with blood.
Electrosurgery
During electrosurgery, a doctor uses a hand-held needle to pass an electric current into a facial vein, destroying the top layer of skin (epidermis) over the vein along with any surface veins in the treatment area. This procedure does cause considerable pain, but it does not last long and most patients tolerate the pain well, advises DermaNetwork. When treating large areas of veins, a local anesthetic might be required. A common side effect is scabbing in the treatment area. People rarely also experience scarring, bleeding or discoloration.
Laser Therapies
Two types of laser therapies provide treatment for facial veins. The first uses vascular lasers, or pulsed dye lasers, to target the blood cells in a spider vein. The blood cells absorb the laser’s energy and are killed, advises Dermanetwork. The second type, intense pulsed light therapy, uses a broadband light instead of a focused laser. This broader form of light targets the deeper layers of the skin (dermis), not just a blood vessel, advises DermNet NZ. ILP also causes significantly more pain than vascular lasers, but doctors might provide pain control using contact cooling or a local anesthetic. Patients require very little if any recovery time for either procedure. The number of treatments required for quality results varies from patient to patient, but averages between four and six. Possible side effects include skin discoloration, bruising and mild burning.
Natural Treatments
Natural treatment aims at improving circulation, which might cause facial veins to diminish. Common natural treatments include daily facial massages, supplementation with vitamin C or E, and dietary changes to increase fiber intake and decrease sodium intake, according to Health Guidance.
Considerations
While the cosmetic treatments discussed destroy facial veins, new ones might form in similar locations, advises Crutchfield Dermatology. To prevent this, you need to work with your dermatologist to determine the underlying cause of your facial veins and develop a treatment. However, facial veins that show due to the thinning of the skin associated with aging might not have a treatment. The treatment for your facial veins can differ from those for another person suffering from visible facial veins.
About this Author
Kimberly Wonderly has a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and has worked as a personal trainer for six years. Wonderly has also taken many child development classes, while running a daycare out of her home for three years. She wrote for the “Rocket” at Slippery Rock University for two years while attending college.
