Facial Capillaries

Visible, small blood vessels on the face are a huge cosmetic problem for many men and women, especially if accompanied by flushing or blushing or a persistent redness of the cheeks and nose. It is most commonly seen in fair skinned individuals who have a family history of one or both parents with the same condition. The areas most commonly affected are the cheeks, nose, and sides of the neck and the v-area of the chest or décolleté.

The condition is usually caused by a combination of family history and excessive exposure to the sun in years past. The capillary blood vessels lie in the deeper layer of the skin called the dermis where collagen and elastin fibres also exist. These fibres give support and strength to the structure of the skin. However, after chronic exposure to UV radiation from the sun, the capillary walls are damaged and weakened and the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis are broken down. This causes the loss of support around the vessels which allows them to dilate and become visible from the surface. There is a misconception that people who suffer from this condition are excessive drinkers, which is untrue.

Treatment is very successful with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) which clears the rosy effect on the skin and removes the small unwanted vessels. An added bonus is that the general appearance of the skin will also improve as a result of the IPL treatment. Larger vessels, usually around the nose, respond dramatically with the Lumenis One Nd:Yag laser. Usually 1 – 4 sessions are needed to clear the area.

Before: Facial Capillaries - This is work in progress

After: Facial Capillaries - This is work in progress

Before

After 3 treatments. (Rosacea) Work in progress

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