Although you may be able to spot damaged blood vessels at home, you should consult your doctor for confirmation. If you have spider veins, Dr. David Jacobs Rockville Centre may suggest prescription drugs or outpatient therapy. Also, you should consult your doctor for causes connected to underlying health concerns such as rosacea. In such circumstances, treating damaged blood vessels requires addressing the underlying reasons.
An overview of the facial vein
The facial vein, also known as the anterior vein of the face, branches out from the angular vein near the base of the nose. The anterior vein travels down and returns through the face. It drains into the jugular vein within the neck and the anterior area of the retromandibular vein at the back of the jaw. Unlike other superficial veins, the anterior vein is not flaccid and lacks valves. The anterior and posterior veins can sometimes merge to form a unified facial vein. This development, however, does not happen to all people.
Causes of facial veins
With age, broken capillaries grow more prevalent; up to half of all adults over 50 acquire conspicuous red, purple, or blue facial veins. As you age, your veins might weaken and become more sensitive to harm, causing them to dilate or stretch. Because skin thins with age, facial veins might become more noticeable in the elderly. Other causes are:
1. Genetics: If you have a family history of broken capillaries and varicose veins, you are more likely to inherit these disorders.
2. Exposure to the sun: Excessive sun exposure is one of the most common causes of damaged capillaries. UV exposure without proper sun protection might cause blood vessels to expand. After a sunburn, the top layer of skin may peel, highlighting the blood vessels right beneath the epidermis.
3. Hormones: During adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause, changing estrogen and progesterone levels in your body can cause capillaries to break. The increased blood volume caused by these life changes might strain the capillaries, rendering them prone to dilatation.
4. Smoking and drinking: Some poor lifestyle choices might impact your looks. Alcohol raises your blood pressure, which can cause blood vessels to rupture and give you a flushed appearance. Smoking damages your circulatory system by weakening the capillaries.
5. Medical problems: Rosacea, liver illness, scleroderma, and lupus are among medical diseases that might raise your chance of developing facial veins.
Prevalent facial vein treatments
IPL treatment (intense pulsed light): Intense pulsed light treatment disperses energy across a greater targeted area, treating a bigger skin region at once. The laser penetrates the second layer of skin, destroying the damaged blood vessels while leaving the top layer unharmed. When heated, the treated blood vessels dissolve and are naturally eliminated by your body. It has a softer effect than laser treatment and needs little to no downtime.
Laser treatment: If your facial veins are severe, you may need more aggressive treatment with laser vein therapy. Laser vein treatment uses a focused beam of light to irritate the walls of a damaged vein, forcing it to collapse. Your body spontaneously eliminates the veins after they collapse. Laser therapy produces more dramatic effects in fewer sessions than IPL treatment. However, the stronger laser treatment usually necessitates a longer recovery period due to damage to the skin’s outer layer.
Facial veins cannot be corrected once they emerge. The only option to diminish their visibility is to get them removed by a professional facial vein treatment. Call South Shore Vein and Aesthetic Medicine or book your appointment online to learn more about facial vein treatments.
