Laser Treatment of Facial Vessels including: Spiders, Nose Telangiectasia, Purple Lip Vessels and Periorbital Reticular Blue Veins.

WHAT ARE TELANGIECTASIA?
Telangiectasia are small unsightly red, purple or blue blood vessels found along the surface of the skin on the face, upper chest, neck and rarely on other parts of the body.  Similar vessels are found on the legs nicknamed spider veins.  The vessels are not necessary for any essential body function.  Removing them gives a more pleasing cosmetic appearance.

WHAT CAUSES TELANGIECTASIA?
Telangiectasia are created by anything that causes the face to flush or blush.  Heredity, accumulated sun damage, acne rosacea (an adult form of acne), hot and spicy food, exercise, emotions, hormones, cortisone medications and some rare skin diseases can cause or contribute to the formations of telangiectasia.

HOW ARE TELANGIECTASIA TREATED?
Vascular lasers provide the best treatment for telangiectasia. This intense light is either pulsed on the skin or a beam of yellow-green light is focused on individual vessels.  Because telangiectasia are either red, pink or purple, they will absorb more of the laser light than the surrounding normal skin.  When the laser light is absorbed, the vessels will shrivel up without damaging the normal skin.

HOW IS THE TREATMENT PERFORMED?
When large patches of telangiectasia are treated, sometimes a test patch is done on a small area of telangiectasia to determine safe and effective settings for your skin type. If the test patch is successful, a more extensive treatment can be done.  The pulse of light seals the unwanted vessels.

DOES THE TREATMENT HURT?
The laser treatment causes a brief snapping sensation on the skin with temporary stinging.  Most patients can tolerate the treatments with no medication.

WHAT DOES THE AREA LOOK LIKE AFTER THE TREATMENT?  ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE TREATMENT?
The treated areas may have temporary redness, or purple discoloration.  Blisters may rarely occur following treatment.  In rare cases the treated areas may heal with increased or decreased pigmentation (white or brown skin).  Scars are possible but occur very rarely.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS AFTER TREATMENT?
Normal activities can be resumed after treatment.  The treated areas should be protected from sunlight or tanning until the skin color has returned to normal.  Gentle cleansing of the skin and application of an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin Ointment (available without a prescription) should be used if any blistering, crusting or scabbing is seen.

WILL MY TELANGIECTASIA COME BACK AFTER BEING TREATED?
People who have an underlying condition which causes telangiectasia will gradually develop new vessels throughout life especially if they frequently flush or blush.  Some causes of telangiectasia are not correctable (inherited fair skin).  Sun protection will prevent telangiectasia which result from repeated sun burns.  Periodic touch-up treatments every year or so will likely be required to get rid of new telangiectasia.  Telangiectasia at the corners of the nose are the most likely to recur because of high pressure vessels feeding this area of the face.  Treatment of an underlying condition such as acne rosacea, may prevent new telangiectasia from forming.

SELECTED LASER TREATMENTS