Spider veins are a common skin condition that affects millions of American adults. Broken blood vessels enlarge and appear just beneath the surface of the skin on the legs, face, and other parts of the body. This condition ruins the skin’s smooth and clear appearance, which is why many patients seek non-surgical vein treatments to get rid of visible veins on the face.
So what’s the best treatment for spider veins on the face? Laser treatments, IPL therapy, sclerotherapy, and retinol products are effective in getting rid of facial spider veins. You may also prevent spider veins from reappearing on the face by avoiding sun exposure, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding extreme heat, and watching your diet and the types of medicines you take, among other preventive measures.
Learn More: Can Supplements Help With Spider Veins?
4 Best Treatments for Spider Veins on the Face
According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, about 40% of women have vein diseases like reticular veins, varicose veins, and spider veins. This incidence only increases as women get older.
But aside from age, spider veins also appear because of a variety of reasons and risk factors like hormonal imbalance, genetic factors, sun exposure, injuries, heat exposure, frequent alcohol consumption, environmental irritants, and underlying conditions.
Spider veins usually appear on the legs, but some patients may also notice these clusters of red or purple broken blood vessels on their faces. While they’re mostly considered a cosmetic issue,spider veins on the face sometimes come with uncomfortable symptoms like pain and swelling.
This is the reason why plastic surgery or any intense procedures for people with spider veins on their faces isn’t recommended, because there’s a huge chance of scarring. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for the best treatments for facial spider veins and other venous conditions like chronic venous insufficiency, here are some of the most popular non-surgical alternatives to try:
Laser Therapy
Laser technology is used for treating common medical conditions on the skin, such as the development of spider veins and varicose veins. During this spider vein treatment, the technician uses a special device to deliver laser energy to the affected veins. Laser treatment heats the damaged veins and causes the vein walls to collapse. This forces the blood to reroute into the nearby healthy veins.
Small spider veins on the face usually only require one treatment to restore the skin’s flawless appearance. The entire procedure is quick and painless, but patients may experience skin redness, blistering, crusting, and temporary skin discoloration for a few days. Common side effects eventually subside after a few days, but don’t hesitate to call a healthcare professional if they worsen or persist.
IPL Therapy
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy works in the same way as laser treatments, except it uses a broad spectrum of light energy to heat and destroy the damaged veins. It also penetrates the deeper layers of the skin better without causing further damage to the outermost layer.
During the procedure, the technician uses an IPL device to deliver polychromatic light pulses and remove unwanted spots and other discolorations on the skin. This treatment also works for pregnancy-related spider veins. The laser light bursts are focused on the patch of skin with face or leg veins. The wavelength is adjusted to match the patient’s specific skin type.
The heat used in an IPL treatment isn’t as strong as traditional laser energy, which makes it much safer for most patients. It targets all unwanted blemishes while leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. The body then produces healthy replacement cells for blemish-free skin.
Sclerotherapy
This type of leg vein treatment is one of the most popular procedures because it effectively eliminates spider veins and small varicose veins right beneath the skin. It involves injecting a sclerosant into the affected vein, causing it to close.
Injections of sclerosing agents also force the blood to flow in other nearby healthy veins after the damaged vein is sealed. The clusters of red and blue veins fade on the skin as the body reabsorbs the collapsed veins into the local tissue.
Sclerotherapy is mainly done for cosmetic purposes, but it also helps improve other symptoms related to spider veins like cramps, swelling, aching, or burning sensations. During the spider vein therapy, the vein expert injects the sclerosing agent into the treatment area to irritate the blood vessel’s lining.
Some solutions may include lidocaine to make the effective treatment more comfortable for patients. Healthcare professionals may also use a foaming version of the solution for larger veins.
Retinoid Products
Skincare products that contain retinoids are often the first thing that patients grab to eliminate the clusters of spider veins on their faces. Retinoid creams help treat a multitude of skin conditions by boosting collagen production and cell regeneration. They help thicken the skin and make the spider veins less visible.
Although they help reduce the appearance of spider veins to some degree, retinoid creams don’t exactly treat the root cause of spider veins. This method also requires patients to continue applying the skincare products on their skin for a few months until they start seeing initial results. Retinol might cause skin irritation for a patient who has a sensitive skin type.
Retinol creams are readily available in local pharmacies which makes them an accessible alternative to eliminating spider veins at home. However, patients should consult a vein expert or try other non-surgical medical treatments if they want to see quick and permanent results for their spider veins.
Read More: 4 Positive Effects of Laser Treatments on Eliminating Spider and Varicose Veins
Can You Prevent Spider Veins from Appearing on the Face?
As much as there are many non-surgical options you can treat your spider veins with, the prevention of their reappearance on your skin must equally be paid attention to. This is to avoid taking too many trips to your local aesthetic practice and waste your time, money, and energy in turn.a Patients can minimize the appearance of spider veins on their face with these tips:
- Avoid Sun Exposure – Prolonged sun exposure enlarges the blood vessels, which is why limiting normal activities under the sun should be a priority. Avoid going outside during peak hours (later morning to early afternoon) and make sure to wear sunscreen all the time to keep the blood vessels healthy and protected.
- Limit Alcohol Intake – Alcohol consumption causes the skin to flush because of the enlargement of small blood vessels in the face. Binge drinking eventually leads to the appearance of spider veins, which is why it’s important to limit its intake. Patients may also consult healthcare professionals if they find it hard to quit alcohol consumption by themselves.
- Avoid Extreme Heat – Like sun exposure, extremely hot temperatures also cause the blood vessels to dilate. Although sauna and spa treatments have many health benefits, it’s best to limit them to prevent irritating the blood vessels, especially during the summer.
- Watch Your Medications and Diet – Caffeine and spicy food are two common vasodilators that make the spider veins more noticeable underneath the skin. They cause blood to fill the broken blood vessels, which is why it’s important to watch out for this type of ingredient in your food and medications.
Learn More: What’s the Difference Between IPL Therapy and Radio Frequency for Spider Veins?
Facial Vein Problems? Vein Center Doctor Can Help
Get your facial spider veins treated at Vein Center Doctor, and explore our non-surgical options to eliminate your spider veins, varicose veins, and other venous conditions you may have. We are a full-service treatment facility that provides everything from accurate diagnosis to excellent aftercare for patients suffering from different venous conditions.
Look and feel your best with a smooth, clear, and vein-free face. Enjoy pain-free and minimally invasive treatments only at Vein Center Doctor. Reach out to us today and call 1-862-227-1054.
