Getting older means changes in your body that you may not like. Age spots, wrinkles, and spider veins are a few of the issues you can expect. Spider veins may be especially bothersome if they appear on your face, but should you worry?
Spider veins aren't usually a sign of a dangerous problem, but they can still affect your confidence. If you have spider veins on your face, you don't have to live with them. We have some treatments to help.
Dr. Hesham Fakhri and Dr. Octavio Cosme specialize in treatments for spider and varicose veins at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute. They’re both experienced cardiologists providing treatments like sclerotherapy, compression stockings, and microphlebectomy for bothersome vein issues.
Spider veins are damaged blood vessels that you can see under the skin. Also known as telangiectasis, spider veins appear in clusters of blood vessels in a web shape and may be red, purple, or blue.
Spider veins lie just below your skin's surface. Most people have spider veins in their legs, cheeks, or on the side of their nose.
Spider veins generally don't present a health risk like some other vein issues, including varicose veins.
You might confuse varicose veins with spider veins, but they are two different conditions. Varicose veins are a sign of venous insufficiency and may cause symptoms. In contrast, spider veins usually don't present with any discomfort.
The good news is that spider veins are rarely a sign of a bigger problem. In most cases, they're due to aging, sun exposure, or genetics. Unlike varicose veins, they're not usually signs of a venous problem.
If you have spider veins on your face, there's no need to fret — these veins are often a cosmetic issue you can choose to live with or get treatment for.
Treatment for spider veins is relatively simple, depending on how many you have and where they are on the face. Getting to the bottom of the cause helps you prevent spider veins from popping back up.
Genetics are a significant factor in spider vein development, sometimes in families. The risk for these veins increases as you get older.
Other factors play a role in spider vein development, which can appear at any age, from childhood to your senior years. Other causes of spider veins include:
Any of the above circumstances can lead to unsightly spider veins on your face. If you're already at risk for spider veins because of genetics or heredity, any of these circumstances make it more likely you’ll see spider veins on your face and other areas of the body.
In most cases, spider veins are a cosmetic problem, but that doesn't mean you can't get treatment. We carefully evaluate your overall health and the spider veins to determine the best treatment route.
Spider veins on your face aren't as easy to treat as spider veins in your legs, which we can treat with compression stockings. Facial spider veins require a procedure called sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is a straightforward procedure and only takes about 15 minutes. We inject a chemical solution into the affected veins. The chemical irritates the veins, causing them to shrink and close.
After some time, the damaged vein becomes scar tissue, which the body absorbs naturally, leaving you with clearer skin. You may require more than one sclerotherapy session for multiple spider veins on your face.
Call us at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute today to schedule a consultation at one of our Florida offices — Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Sun City Center. You may also request a consultation using our online booking tool.
