There is nothing more irritating than the daily struggle of concealing facial capillaries, and nothing more satisfying for our clinicians than treating them with our vascular lasers. If you find yourself dealing with facial capillaries or redness of the cheeks, nose and chin, this guide will tell you how our vascular lasers at Liberty Belle might just provide the treatment you are looking for.
Spider Angioma
(All photographs courtesy of Cutera)
What causes facial redness and capillaries?
A number of factors can predispose you to developing visible capillaries and redness. These include:
- Sun damage
- Genetic predisposition
- The natural aging process
- Thin skin
- Inflammation or irritation
- Conditions such as rosacea
- High blood pressure
How do vascular lasers treat capillaries?
Heat from a laser source can reduce the visibility of capillaries by shutting them down. When a vascular laser is applied directly to the skin, the abnormal vessels absorb the green light from the laser. This usually causes them to collapse, improving the appearance of your skin.
What kind of vascular lasers do you use?
At Liberty Belle, our clinicians have a number of lasers at their disposal that can be used to treat vascular conditions. Each laser has different strengths and limitations; your clinician will choose the appropriate modality for your situation.
When it comes to treating capillaries in particular, our clinicians commonly use the highly advanced Cutera Excel V, which is both versatile and effective. It operates using two nanometre wavelengths, the 532 and the 1064. Both of these are designed to target the colour of red blood cells (haemoglobin) – or, to put it another way, the redness that causes capillaries to stand out.
Telangiectasia
The 532 nm wavelength is generally used for superficial redness and small capillaries, while the 1064 nm can target larger, deeper veins and capillaries. One of the benefits of the Excel V is that, unlike many other laser modalities, it is not limited to light skin tones, and can be calibrated to treat all skin colours.
Another useful laser is the Laser Genesis, which our clinicians often use to treat larger areas of generalised redness and rosacea.
Rosacea
How much discomfort is involved?
Treatment consists of a number of short ‘zaps’, which last only a few seconds. This will cause a small amount of discomfort. However, as Excel V comes with a built-in sapphire cooling tip to enhance comfort, our clients usually describe the feeling as nothing more than a hot pin prick followed by a pleasant cooling sensation.
How long does the treatment take?
The procedure is short and generally takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
How many treatments will I need?
This depends on your exact concerns. Some vessels can be treated in a single session, while others may require further treatments. Your clinician will discuss this with you. Generally speaking, treatment sessions are four weeks apart.
What can I do to prevent capillary damage in the future?
Some general precautions can make a difference. Since sun damage is a big contributing factor, wearing SPF daily will help. Be sure to reapply regularly, and check that the product you use provides both UVA and UVB protection. Many kinds of foundation, concealer and mineral makeup come with built-in SPF, so you can easily incorporate it into your daily routine.
You may also consider strengthening your skin with treatments and products that use topical ingredients like Vitamin C and Vitamin A (retinoids). This will not address capillaries directly, but rather assist overall skin health to reduce the risk of damage.
However, despite these measures, it is not always possible to completely prevent capillaries from coming back. Genetics and other biological factors do play a role, and for some people a sneeze or a hot shower is all it takes to burst one! Speak to your clinician to find out what causes them. Once you know why you are disposed to develop visible capillaries, you can take more effective measures to treat and prevent them.
Telangiectasia
We hope this has given you an idea of what our vascular lasers can do to address redness and abnormal vessels of the face, but remember that everyone is different and not all treatments are for all patients. Our clinicians at Liberty Belle will only be able to recommend the right treatment for you once they have assessed your skin.
If you have any further questions about our vascular lasers, or if you would like to book a skin consult, do not hesitate to contact us.