Broken capillaries are very small blood vessels located very close to the surface of the skin. They’re closely related to spider veins but cause extended skin discoloration and are often long-lasting and distressingly visible. Spider veins are often found on the legs or face – where they tend to be concentrated on the nose and cheeks. They can start to develop at relatively young ages, although they’re found far more common among the aged.
Although they’re not indicative of any particular health problem, they are certainly regarded as undesirable by most men and women.
Typical Causes of Broken Facial Capillaries
Broken blood vessels can actually have their origin in a relatively large number of different causes, including excessive sun exposure, rosacea, frequent alcohol consumption, and physical injury. They can be caused by environmental factors, including prolonged exposure to cold or windy conditions. Hormonal changes, including those that occur during pregnancies, can result in broken blood vessels, although these are often temporary. Finally, some people are simply more prone to developing these problems than others are, either due to genetic factors or unusually thin and/or pale skin.
Available Treatments
Several treatment options exist, including Retinoid creams. These creams are based on Vitamin A and work by stimulating collagen production. They may sometimes result in dry or itchy skin.
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that can be used to reduce visible spider veins – the treatment involves injecting a solution into the problematic veins that causes them to wither and eventually be absorbed into the surrounding tissue. Sclerotherapy can be effective but has several possible undesirable side effects, including inflammation and rare allergic reactions.
Laser therapy uses pulses of high-intensity light energy focused onto the unwanted blood vessels. The light energy damages the blood vessels, resulting in their eventually being absorbed. A similar technique uses pulses of several different light frequencies to achieve a similar effect – this technique is known as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial treatment. IPL also stimulates collagen production and hence can also improve overall skin tone and condition.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in both Laser vein therapy and the use of IPL Photofacials for general skin rejuvenation and spider vein treatment. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
