Spider veins are ugly, no matter where they turn up. But when they form on your face, they can be especially upsetting. Also called telangiectasia, facial veins can be caused by a variety of factors, most often forming around the chin, cheeks or nose. And while their location used to make them almost impossible to treat, today there are options that can successfully remove ugly facial veins without damaging the surrounding delicate skin, so you can look your best and feel more attractive and confident.
What causes facial veins?
Many people who develop facial veins have a family history of spider veins in the face and elsewhere. But while heredity may make you more predisposed to developing ugly facial veins, it’s only one contributing cause or factor that can lead to their development. Other possible causes include:
- trauma or injury to the face
- acne, especially cystic acne or acne that’s hard to treat
- rosacea, a chronic skin condition that causes facial veins to become enlarged or dilated
- lifestyle habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption
- sun exposure or exposure to other harsh environmental elements like harsh winds
Facial telangiectasia also tends to be more common among people with fair skin. That’s not too surprising considering fair skin is more likely to be damaged by the sun.
Getting Rid of Facial Veins
If you’re prone to developing facial veins or spider veins on other areas of your body, you can decrease the risk of developing spider veins on your face by wearing sunscreen and staying out of direct sun when the UV rays are at their strongest. Wearing a hat with a wide brim can also provide some protection, and quitting smoking and watching your alcohol intake can also reduce your risks.
But what if you already have facial veins? No worries – you still have options. While spider veins on other parts of your body may be treated successfully with injections of special chemicals designed to close your veins (a treatment called sclerotherapy), most facial veins are treated with lasers or with a special technique called Veinwave® therapy. Noth Veinwave and lasers use heat to eliminate tiny spider veins on the face, but the approach they use is different.
VeinWave vs. Lasers
Veinwave uses thermocoagulation or heat energy to destroy the damaged veins. The Veinwave device uses a very fine needle that’s inserted into the damaged veins. The needle transmits heat energy – just enough to destroy the damaged vein without damaging the surrounding area. Because the needle is so fine, no anesthesia or sedation is required, and there’s no downtime – you can get back to your regular routine right away.
Laser treatment also uses heat energy, but the energy is delivered via a handpiece through the skin without needles. The device is equipped with a special cooling element that helps keep the surrounding skin cool to reduce the risk of tissue damage and to keep you comfortable during treatment.
Both lasers and thermocoagulation can be effective in treating facial veins. During your office visit, Dr. Dietzek will be able to determine which approach is better for your needs.
Learn more about facial vein treatment options in South Jersey
Thanks to advances in spider vein treatment, there’s no reason to suffer from ugly, embarrassing facial veins. Call the Vein & Vascular Institute at 856-309-8346 to schedule your vein evaluation today.