Treatment of Thread Veins (Bournemouth Clinic)

Treatment of thread veins and spider nevus on the face by electrolysis.

Thread veins are the small red veins found on the cheeks and around the nose. They can vary in colour between red and purple.

They can be hereditary but many things can cause them, such as, dehydration, too much sunbathing, over exposure to the elements, washing with soap or general neglect of the facial skin.

The permanent removal of thread veins through electrolysis involves placing a very fine needle under the skin and then a small amount of heat is used to cauterise the dilated capillary. This results in the capillary drying up and then disappearing.

This process takes 15 minutes and several treatments maybe necessary, depending on the severity.

The permanent removal of thread veins through sclerotherapy involves the injection of a sclerosing agent, applied with a tiny 30 gauge needle. The sclerosing agent is a harmless solution called Sclerovein which irritates the capillary walls of the veins and will coagulate the blood in the tiny capillaries, the body will consider it as a bruise and absorb it.

When the solution is injected into the vein, the solution can be seen tracking through the vein and its branches. The treatment is very safe and effective and used for thread veins on the face and legs.

This process takes around 30 minutes per session. Normally this process requires 2-3 treatments, however, this does depend on the individual patient.

Thread veins and rosacea can be treated with Intense Pulse Light.

Intense pulsed light systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that stimulate the fibroblast cells within the skin that produce collagen and elastin.

This improves the radiancy and tightness of the skin, controlling enlarged pores, and giving a more uniform complexion.

IPL can be used foremost red skin lesions including: facial thread veins, rosacea, spider naevi and port wine stains.

Are There Any Risks Involved?

There are very few risks associated with the treatment of spider veins with sclerotherapy and electrolysis, but complications can occur. Possible complications of sclerotherapy include scarring, inflammation, adverse reactions to the sclerosing solution. Electrolysis treatments can cause a change of skin colour around the treated area, which may take weeks to fade. It is also possible that your veins will not respond to the electrolysis treatment at all.

Do I Need To Take Any Precautions Before Treatment?

Prior to thread vein treatment you should avoid alcohol for a few days, this is because alcohol consumption decreases your platelets count which can lead to excessive bruising. Shower or bathe the night prior to treatment. If the treatment is to be carried out on your legs wear loose fitting clothes.

Is It Painful?

With both forms of thread vein treatments you may feel a slight burning sensation during treatment. After the treatment you may experience some mild itching, redness, bruising and swelling. These symptoms usually go away within a few days.

What About Aftercare For Sclerotherapy?

Recovery times will vary from person to person, it is usual to have a small amount of bruising or discolouration around the treated area, but this will normally last only for a few days.

During your recovery period, walking can improve the circulation and shorten the recovery period. Weight lifting, and other heavy pressure exercises however, should be avoided during the treatment and recovery periods.

Prolonged sitting or standing should be also avoided. With sclerotherapy, you may be asked to wear a support stocking during recovery to compress the veins and minimize bruising. Avoid exposing the treated area to direct sunlight until it is fully healed.