Spider veins appear as blue or red jagged lines near the surface of the skin. Women are more prone to developing spider veins than men, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but everyone is at risk and the condition affects up to 60 percent of all adults. They occur due to a backup of blood in the veins and are associated with advancing age, hormonal fluctuations, skin injury and sun exposure. Although spider veins typically cause no symptoms, in some cases itching or burning may develop. Treatment of facial spider veins is rarely medically necessary and is performed almost exclusively for cosmetic reasons.
Step 1
Undergo laser surgery to destroy the affected veins. Laser surgery is often the preferred treatment method for facial spider veins, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It works by heating the blood vessels with strong bursts of light, causing the veins to fade away. Laser therapy may not be suitable for all skin colors.
Step 2
Treat your facial spider veins with sclerotherapy, a procedure that involves the injection of a chemical solution into the affected veins. This solution irritates the veins and causes them to swell and close. Once they're closed, blood flow halts and scar tissue forms, causing the spider vein to fade. Sclerotherapy is usually an outpatient procedure that may require multiple treatments, notes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about photoderm if your spider veins fail to improve after treatment with sclerotherapy. Photoderm allows intense pulses of light to selectively target and destroy affected veins. Up to six treatments may be necessary before the spider veins completely disappear.
Step 4
Try electrodessication, which involves the administration of a weak electrical current through a needle into the vein wall. This seals off the blood vessel and is usually successful at removing spider veins, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Electrodessication poses a risk of scarring, but this is less likely to occur on the face than on other areas of the body, explains the Encyclopedia of Surgery.
Step 5
Discontinue taking oral contraceptive pills if your doctor believes that your facial spider veins may be related to hormonal changes. Hormonal fluctuations, such as those that occur during pregnancy, puberty and menopause or when taking birth control pills can trigger the development of spider veins. In many cases, the veins return to normal once hormone levels even out.
Step 6
Protect your face from developing new spider veins and encourage healing of existing veins by wearing sunscreen when you spend time outdoors and by eating a high-fiber, low-sodium diet.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
References
- Cleveland Clinic: Varicose and Spider Veins
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
- The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: Spider Vein Treatment (Sclerotherapy)
- American Academy of Dermatology: Spider Vein, Varicose Vein Therapy
- Encyclopedia of Surgery: Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins
