Thread veins are broken blood vessels on the face that occur beneath the skins surface. They are usually red in colour and can take on a web-shaped appearance which is why they are often referred to as spider veins.

What causes facial thread veins?

There are a number of reasons why you may have developed facial thread veins which includes:

• Genetics

• Pregnancy

• Rosacea

• Illness (excessive blowing of the nose, vomiting)

• Trauma

• Sun Damage

• Environmental Irritants (Exposure to chemicals or pollutants)

• Frequent alcohol consumption

• Age

• Lifestyle (stress, lack of sleep)

• Temperature change

How do you get rid of thread veins on your face?

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How does it work? The pulses of light energy cause the blood within the thread veins to coagulate which causes the vessel to close. Once the thread vein vessel is closed, it will be re-absorbed by the body and the blood is re-routed to veins located deeper under the skin.

Is there any downtime? The skin may be red in the hours following treatment and bruising can sometimes occur. You will need to avoid sun exposure for 3-4 weeks and use a high SPF sunscreen on the areas treated.

When will I see results? Many patients begin to see an improvement in the appearance of facial veins 2-6 weeks after treatment, but the final results can take 3-5 months to be seen. The amount of treatments required will vary between patients but in most cases, we recommend 3 treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart.

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Can broken capillaries on the face go away?

In some cases, broken capillaries on the face may heal on their own but generally, if they have not cleared up within 3-6 months then they are likely to need further treatment. If you are visited your GP about broken capillaries on the face they may have prescribed or suggested a topical retinoid cream which can help to reduce the visibility of the veins but this is often only a short term fix and you will need to apply the cream everyday to maintain the results.

The best way to treat broken capillaries or spider veins on the face is to have them professionally treated with IPL treatment or NG YAG laser treatment.

There are also a variety of ways you can prevent broken capillaries from occurring on the face such as;

• Wearing sun protection

• Not over exfoliating

• Only washing your face with lukewarm water

• Get plenty of Vitamin C