5 Things You Need to Know About Spider Veins on the Face

Although spider veins on the face are not painful or harmful, they can make your skin look blotchy or flushed. These clusters of small, reddish-blue squiggly lines are also hard to conceal and can make you feel self-conscious. Spider veins, furthermore, tend to get worse or more visible over time if left untreated. 

If you have spider veins and are wondering how you can improve or get rid of them, learning more about these veins can help you deal with them better. Here are five things you need to know about spider veins.

1. Spider veins are broken/damaged blood vessels.

These clusters of tiny veins become visible with dilated or enlarged capillaries on the skin. Also referred to as telangiectasia, spider veins commonly occur on the nose, cheeks, and chin. They aren’t painful in most cases, but some people with broken blood vessels experience itching or mild discomfort. 

The most common symptom of spider veins is their spider web-like appearance, which can be noticeable in some cases. These veins also are a symptom of rosacea, which is a chronic skin inflammatory condition that causes persistent facial redness. Many wish to treat or get rid of telangiectasia because of the way it makes the skin look. 

2. Spider veins have no single cause.

Broken blood vessels happen from poor circulation or venous insufficiency due to a number of factors. They can develop at age, but some people have a higher risk of developing them than others. Here are some causes of spider veins on the face:

• Genetics – Having family members with spider veins increases your risk of developing them yourself.
• Excessive sun exposure – Ultraviolet rays can enlarge your blood vessels and make them more visible or come closer to the skin’s surface.
• Weather changes – Hot weather, for instance, can cause the veins under the skin to dilate or enlarge. Drastic weather changes can also impact blood circulation, which may then cause facial flushing.
• Pressure changes – Extreme pressure on the face (can be due to intense sneezing or vomiting) can break the blood vessels in the face, resulting in the appearance of spider veins.
• Rosacea – As previously mentioned, rosacea is a skin condition that causes the skin to become flushed and red due to enlarged veins.
• Pregnancy – Hormonal fluctuations during this period can cause the blood vessels to become more visible. The good news is they usually disappear after giving birth.
• Alcohol consumption – Regular and heavy alcohol consumption can cause the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in facial flushing and spider veins on the face.
• Injuries – Some injuries that cause bruising may lead to broken blood vessels. Fortunately, when the bruising heals, the blood vessels do too.

3. Spider veins don’t go away on their own.

Unfortunately, spider veins rarely go away on their own without treatment or intervention. Some creams may provide temporary coverage, but there are no at-home remedies or topical medications that can remove spider veins on the face. If these broken blood vessels are making you self-conscious, seeing a skin/aesthetic doctor is the best thing you can do.

4. In-office treatments are the only way to get rid of spider veins.

At Cutis, we have laser vein reduction, which uses pulses of laser light to treat broken blood vessels on the face and other areas of the body. What it does is cause the blood within the vein to coagulate. This destroys the vein, which the skin absorbs later on. Then, the blood flow is redirected to the vein deeper below the skin surface, where it is supposed to be. 

As the blood flow is redirected into the deeper veins, the visible veins on your face will disappear. One to two treatments are usually enough, but this can still depend on the patient’s profile. You can see results within two to six weeks. Touch-up treatments may be recommended for maintenance or if new spider veins appear. 

Our clinic also has other non-invasive treatments that can improve facial redness, telangiectasia, and uneven skin tone. These include: 

• Laser skin rejuvenation – heats the upper dermis to stimulate collagen production and generates additional heat in dilated capillaries to reduce facial redness. It can also improve/tackle other issues such as sun damage, telangiectasia, enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
• IPL Photo Facial – uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to revitalize the skin and help stimulate collagen production. It tackles/improves hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also reduces blood flow to the broken capillaries to improve facial redness and tiny facial veins.

5. There are preventative measures for spider veins on the face.

Below are some things that can help prevent the occurrence of future spider veins on the face:

• Avoid or limit sun exposure – Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen when going out, as well as a brimmed hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing. Seek shade and limit exposure when UV rays are the strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Avoid extreme heat – Blood vessels dilate and enlarge in places with very high temperatures such as spas and saunas. Using hot water on your face can also increase your chances of developing spider veins.
• Avoid vasodilators – They may make telangiectasia more visible by causing the vessels to fill with blood. Common vasodilators include alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine.
• Wear protective gear – When participating in sports or cycling/motorcycling, wear protective gear like helmets or facemasks. This can prevent and avoid telangiectasia due to an injury.

Schedule a consultation with us

If spider veins and facial redness are making you self-conscious, get in touch with us. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to find out if laser vein reduction or other treatment is right for you.