Thread Veins
Thread veins (or telangiectasia) are small superficial red, purple or blue veins which may appear anywhere on the body, but most commonly on the face and legs. Thread veins occur when the vein dilates and become large enough to be visible through the skin. They are classified according to their appearance as linear, branching or spider telangiectasia.
Your Face & Eye surgeon, dermatologist or nurse practitioner will use Intensive Pulsed Light (IPL) to improve the appearance of facial thread veins and sclerotherapy, a technique which involves the injection of a very small amount of solution into the veins, to treat thread veins in the legs. This causes the walls of the veins to stick together, empty of blood and ultimately disappear. Intense pulsed light sessions typically last 15-20 mins and are associated with a stinging sensation. Usually 3-4 sesssions separated by 2-3 weeks are required.
Sclerotherapy is by far the most successful way of removing thread veins on the legs. The needles used are very fine and most people are unaware that the treatment is being performed. Treatment sessions typically last 30 mins and are repeated at 1-2 weekly intervals until the improvement has been achieved. Typically 2-3 sessions are required.