There are four types of facial spider vein treatments commonly offered in spas and medical facilities: sclerotherapy, electrosurgery, laser treatments and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments. To choose the best facial treatment, consider the severity of your spider veins, your pain tolerance, and the risks associated with the method. Also consider your budget and willingness to undergo several treatment sessions. If you would prefer not to undergo a cosmetic procedure, you can use certain facial products to reduce the appearance of spider veins.
Sclerotherapy is a cosmetic treatment in which a liquid sodium chloride solution is injected into a spider vein. Once the solution has been injected, the vein collapses and eventually disappears. Since the solution must be injected directly into the vein, it is not typically performed on very thin spider veins. While sclerotherapy is used in some spas as a facial skin treatment, the solution can cause blindness if it reaches the ophthalmic artery, making it the least common option.
Electrosurgery is a facial spider vein treatment that uses an electric current to destroy spider veins. When performed on large areas, electrosurgery can be painful and might cause bruising, temporary tightness and scabbing. In most cases, only one treatment will be required to achieve the desired results. When used as a small spider vein or capillary treatment, electrotherapy is an inexpensive and minimally painful way to get rid of unwanted veins on the face.
Laser treatments are also commonly offered as a facial spider vein treatment. These treatments involve the use of specialized lasers that destroy blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Laser treatments are usually more expensive than sclerotherapy and electrosurgery, and commonly require between one and three treatments to produce the best results. After treatment, patients might be sore and, in rare cases, experience darkening of the skin. Due to their effectiveness, lasers are commonly offered as a facial spa treatment.
IPL is a facial spider vein treatment in which broadband light is used to destroy blood vessels. These treatments are gentler than other spider vein treatments and generally require between three and six treatment sessions. Unlike laser treatments, IPL is able to penetrate deeper into the tissue without damaging the skin. These treatments are comparable to laser treatments in price, but are less likely to produce side effects.
In addition to these cosmetic procedures, you can also use lotions and other topical products as a facial spider vein treatment. These products use certain ingredients, like vitamin K and anti-inflammatory agents, to improve the appearance of your spider veins. While these products will not give you a facial makeover, they might help to diminish your spider veins. Many lotions are also effective when used in combination with other treatments.
To choose the best spider vein treatment, weigh both the pros and cons of each option. Classic treatments like electrosurgery are typically the least expensive and require fewer treatment sessions. Laser treatments and IPL are more expensive, safer and more commonly used to eliminate facial spider veins. To determine which facial spider vein treatment will be the most beneficial, discuss your options with a physician or dermatologist.