Spider Veins Specialist
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Irwin Laser Center
Laser Specialist & Laser Aesthetics located in Irwin, PA
Fine red blood vessels visible through the skin are often called spider veins for their splayed, web-like appearance. Although these may occur in your feet and legs, visible blood vessels on your face are far more noticeable. Dr. Karim Khalil uses cosmetic lasers to reduce and remove these unnecessary vessels, restoring a smoother, more even appearance to your skin. Contact Irwin Laser Center in Irwin, Pennsylvania, today to book an appointment.
Spider Veins Q & A
What causes spider veins?
Medically called telangiectasia, fine, visible capillaries can occur anywhere on the face, but usually collect on the cheeks and across the nose. Spider veins develop from damage to the walls of blood vessels. Conditions such as high blood pressure and obesity may result in a backflow of blood, causing this damage, or it may occur for non-medical reasons, such as prolonged exposure to severe weather or overly vigorous facial scrubbing. The general effects of aging make these vessels weaker, so it’s a contributing factor as well.
Though these blood vessels are harmless, they do pose a cosmetic concern for those who suffer from them. Irwin Laser Center treats spider veins, as well as other skin discolorations, with cosmetic lasers.
How are spider veins treated with lasers?
As with most cosmetic lasers, target areas below the skin’s surface can be addressed with little to no effect on the outer layers of skin, making these an ideal way to treat visible capillaries. The dilated blood vessels serve no purpose, so their removal has no effect except for your improved appearance.
Dr. Khalil used the Vbeam Perfecta® laser system to treat spider veins. This laser system can be tuned to specific frequencies, ideal for matching to the color of your visible vessels, which typically range from red to purple. The light energy is absorbed by the capillaries, causing them to heat up. The body interprets this heating as a signal to remove the tissue, in this case, the visible spider veins. In addition, new collagen may be produced, fading or eliminating associated skin pigmentation. Skin takes on a more even, youthful appearance. You may also feel that your skin is tighter, with fewer lines and wrinkles.
Is laser vein removal safe?
Yes. If you have any reaction to the treatment at all, it will be similar to mild sun exposure, with some redness and sensitivity, but these effects are generally short-lived. Some people feel no effects, but this varies by patient, depending on how much laser energy the outer layers of their skin absorbs. Before and after treatments, use of sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or greater is recommended to make treatments more effective, as well as to protect your skin at its most sensitive.
