Facial Telangiectasia (Spider Veins)
This information is of a general nature only and is for public information and education. Your individual problem needs to be assessed by your family doctor who will advise you on appropriate further steps.
Facial Telangiectasia refers to prominent blood vessels seen on the nose, cheeks and chin. This problem is often seen in those with a fair complexion, and is due to dilatation (stretching) of the wall of blood vessels. In addition to this, sun damage will worsen the problem. It is often familial, and those who have this problem often remember a parent having the same problem.
The blood vessels may be seen as straight and prominent, or branching in a tree like fashion, or spider like, with a central prominent red area from which many vessels take off, or it may appear to be a number of little red dots. The blood vessels may also protrude above the skin surface when the problem is quite severe. It is often noted that the telangiectasia is worse at times, and less prominent at other times.
The problem of Facial Telangiectasia affects people in different ways. In the milder type, the vessels are fine and the cheeks, chin and nose appear to have a constant blush. In others, the vessels are prominent and noticable, and attracts comments from others , causing some concern to the affected person. In some, and especially in men, the affected blood vessels are raised, thick and very prominent, causing them great distress and embarrasment as it is presumed by others that this problem is due to excessive drinking. Individuals suffering from this degree of telangiectasia often withdraw from social contacts with others, and dread the cruel comments they often attract, as a result of a problem they have no control over.
Treatment
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a high energy broad spectrum light source, and is very effective in treating facial telangiectasia. IPL acts like a laser, causing internal damage to the blood vessels which then get blocked off, by a process called selective photothermolysis . However, it has many advantages over treatment with lasers.
IPL treatment is reasonably well tolerated by adults, as there is a rubber band like sting with each flash of the light source. Children need some support before and during the treatment, and a lot of cuddling, and milk or ice cream, depending on the age of the child, after the treatment! The IPL foot print is large ( 12x8 mm or 8x35 mm ) and hence the treatment time is short. Anaesthesia is not needed and there is no crusting of skin. The treated area looks reddish and this clears by 48 hours. Sometimes, there is some bruising but this is equally short lived.
A further advantage of IPL is the availability of a choice of filters which permits the use of different wave lengths to affect blood vessels at varying skin depths. Treatment usually consists of a course of four treatments at about 2 to 3 weekly intervals. A bonus of the treatment is a lightening of skin due to some absorbption of the IPL light by melanin (pigment) in skin.
