Skin Club by DermaGenesis

Spider veins can be frustrating especially when it is on the face or the legs. Thanks to Lasers, spider veins can now be reduced or even completely erased in just few months. It's safe, painless and effective!

The exact cause of spider veins is not known, but heredity, local trauma, and hormonal levels are believed to be contributing factors. Spider veins, or also known as broken capillaries become more numerous with age, and are twice as common in women. Spider veins are formed by the dilation of the small veins under the surface of the skin, mostly on the legs. They look like red or purple sunbursts or web patterns. Spider veins are also referred to as telangiectasia or broken capillaries. They usually pose no health hazard but are of an aesthetic concern, especially on the face and other parts of the body.
Initial treatment for spider veins is use of surgical support host, which gives leg compression. This should also be used with any other treatment for the spider veins. There are several ways to treat spider veins.

Laser treatment for Spider veins

Spider veins are best treated with Laser; either a long pulse NdYAG (1064nm) or long pulse DIODE (800nm) Laser. Laser energy produces heat, which selectively destroys the abnormal veins. The Laser pierces the skin and penetrates the superficial blood vessel. The heat generated from the Laser coagulates the blood inside the vessel causing it to collapse and seal. Over the next few weeks, the vessel will disappear and all the blood will be removed by the body's scavenging cells. If the blood supply to the veins is strong, the vessels may re-establish blood flow again; making it necessary for several treatments. Laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel without injuring any nearby structures. However, Laser treatment is ineffective for deeper and larger veins. Click here to know more about Diode laser.

IPL treatment for Spider veins

IPL (Intense Pulse Light) is effective for tiny veins in fair-skinned people. IPL treatment distributes light energy as heat beneath the skin's layers without affecting the outer layers of the skin (the epidermis). The heat generated from the IPL coagulates the blood inside the vessel causing it to collapse and seal. Subsequently the vessels collapse after several Treatments. The wavelength and energy level is selected based on the skin type for selective destruction of capillaries. Click here to know more about IPL.

Sclerotherapy treatment for Spider veins

Before the advent of skincare Laser, sclerotherapy was the treatment of choice to treat spider veins. A concentrated salt (saline) or specially developed chemical solution is injected with a very small needle into the spider vein. This pickles the inside of the vein so it closes up. It later collapses and becomes scar tissue that eventually is absorbed by the body. Sclerotherapy generally requires multiple treatment sessions. Post-treatment therapy includes wearing compression bandages or support hose for two days to three weeks following treatment. Although sclerotherapy works for current spider veins, it does not prevent future ones from developing. Sclerotherapy is less popular due to the discomfort and risk of scarring.

Safety, risks and side effects

There are several advantages of skincare Laser over sclerotherapy. They include:

• Laser has much fewer side effects
• Laser is less traumatic to the surrounding skin compared to sclerotherapy
• Laser takes a much shorter time to complete the treatment
• Laser is less painful than sclerotherapy
• Recovery is immediate
• Downtime is almost zero
• Laser therapy can even be used on the face

Laser and IPL treatments are fast, safe and almost painless. Normally an individual may require 4 - 6 laser or IPL treatments, done once in 3 - 4 weeks. Side effects are localized with minimal redness or bruising following the procedure. Laser treatment works for current spider veins, but it does not prevent future ones from developing.

Cost

Cost of Laser or IPL treatment for spider veins depends on the size of the treatment area. On an average, it may range from RM 400 - RM 800 for each visit of Laser or IPL treatment.

Photo gallery

Pictures of spider vein treated using a combination of Diode Laser and IPL. Click on the thumbnail for larger image.
(Pictures are copyright protected and are the property of DermaGenesis (Australia) Pty Ltd. Unauthorized use or reproduction is strictly prohibited.)