Mapperley Park Clinic

Treatments for Facial Threadveins, Blemishes, Haemangiomas and Angiomas

What are thread veins?
Threadveins, broken veins or telangiectasia are the small red or blue veins which can appear anywhere on the body but are most common on the face and legs. Facial vessels are always treated by laser. Thread veins can appear as single veins, widely dispersed or as a collection of broken veins close together. They can also appear as a collection of vessels arising from a single point; these are known as Spider Naevi .

There are currently a number of lasers and IPL systems available for treating facial thread veins and we have four at the Mapperley Park Clinic, so we are able to treat all vessels.

Why do thread veins develop?
Thread veins are caused by a variety of factors including exposure to ultra violet light, wind and extremes of temperature. Steroid creams and the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can also induce thread veins.

Some individuals are genetically more prone to develop thread veins than others and some people are more at risk because of old injuries. If your parents had thread veins, then there is a good chance that you will develop them.

It is possible that hormone treatments, such as the contraceptive pill and HRT can increase the likelihood of forming thread veins.

Can all thread veins be removed?
By choosing our laser carefully, we are able to maximise our ability to clear thread veins. Sometimes larger veins may need to be dealt with first with one type of laser, before we can tackle issues of background redness with a different treatment.

Which laser would be used?
We use a diode laser, to remove blood vessels up to a diameter of about 2mm or a long pulsed Nd:YAG for larger vessels. Very fine "blushes" of vessels and general background skin redness are better treated using an Intense Pulsed Light system. We also have a Pulsed Dye laser but we choose not to use this for facial vessels as it causes bruises which the other lasers do not cause.

How do the laser and IPL work?  All lasers work by producing light of a very specific wavelength. If the wavelength of the laser is matched to a target colour (such as the red of blood in the blood vessels), the energy of the laser is absorbed specifically by the target but not by the surrounding tissues. The IPL produces a slightly wider range of wavelengths of light, but works in exactly the same way.

The diode and the Nd:YAG lasers deliver a series of focused energy pulses generating heat for very short periods of time; this energy closes down the thread veins, without perforating them; it is rather like spot welding.

The IPL delivers a much larger spot of energy that heats target vessels in much the same way. This effect makes it more suitable for areas of diffuse redness, where it is not possible to target individual vessels. In either case, the damaged veins are gradually dissolved away and disappear over several weeks after treatment.

What does laser treatment feel like?
The laser or IPL are fired in short bursts at the thread veins. This feels like a hot pin-prick on the skin. During and after treatment the skin is cooled to reduce discomfort.

What can I expect after treatment?
The treated veins will be immediately less visible than before treatment. There may some skin reaction in the form of a light crusting that can develop after a day or two and rarely slight blistering can occur which resolves very quickly.

How many treatments will I need and how often?
The number of treatments needed will depend on the site and the extent of the affected area and will be estimated at your consultation. It is usually necessary to do at least 3 treatments or possibly more.

Treatments are usually planned at four week intervals. We do not carry out treatment on patients who are tanned or have recently exposed to UV.