Spider veins are smaller varieties of varicose veins caused by damage to veins. Veins contain small valves that help push blood through the veins, preventing blood from accumulating. With varicose and spider veins, these valves have become damaged and don't function properly, causing the veins to become swollen with blood. Although these enlarged veins don't cause any medical problems, they represent a significant cosmetic issue because they can be very visible against the thin skin of the face. There are a variety of treatments that can be used for spider veins of the face.
Step 1
Apply skin creams. There are many different skin creams that can be used to treat facial spider veins, Livestrong explains, although there is not significant clinical evidence to support the efficacy of these creams. Many of these creams include vitamins K and C, which are purported to help strengthen the walls of the veins and capillaries and inhibit excessive blood clotting. These creams may also be used to help mask the appearance of spider veins. These creams need to be applied according to the instructions provided with the product and should be used on a regular basis to be effective.
Step 2
Undergo laser therapy. Laser therapy is generally the treatment of choice for spider veins on the face. Laser therapy involves exposing the affected part of the skin to short, intense bursts of laser light, the National Women's Health Information Center explains. The affected veins absorb this laser light, which results in the generation of short bursts of heat. The heat vaporizes the veins, eliminating them from the face. Generally, patients will need to receive multiple sessions of laser therapy for the veins to be completely removed from the face, InfoPlasticSurgery reports. Laser therapy for spider veins can cause some mild bruising to occur under the face, but these purple marks will generally fade within a week.
Step 3
Receive intense light therapy. Laser therapy works best for spider veins that are near the surface of the face. However, spider veins that are located more deeply can still cause cosemtic blemishes but may not respond to laser therapy. In these instances, intense light therapy may be used, VeinDirectory explains. Intense light therapy works in the same was as laser therapy but uses a different form of light, which penetrates deeper into the skin's surface. It may be used for facial spider veins that do not respond to other forms of treatment.
Things You'll Need
- Skin creams
