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Broken
Veins (Leg/Face)
Visible, dilated blood vessels, or commonly known as "broken veins" are very commonly found on the face or on the legs.
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Broken veins on the face
Common causes of broken veins on the face include:
• Sun damage: often accompanied by other signs of sun-damage
(e.g. pigmentation, coarseness / dryness of skin, wrinkles)
• Rosacea: may also exhibit one or more of the following: easy
flushing or persistent redness, skin sensitivity, acne-like
spots, oily skin
with dilated pores)
• Genetic predisposition
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If broken veins become bothersome cosmetically, they can be
effectively removed with one of the vascular lasers
or with Intense Pulsed Light treatment.
The vascular lasers e.g. the V-Star pulsed
dye laser and the Gemini KTP/Nd:YAG laser offer more focused and
effective treatment for a specific blemish when used as a
¡§spot-on¡¨ treatment. However, these lasers can also reduce the
redness of the face in a more gentle, all rounded manner as
¡§Laser Facials¡¨ which can improve
skin texture and pigmentation at the same time. Intense Pulsed
Light also gives similar effects. Your
dermatologist can advise you on the best choice of treatment
basing on your skin condition and your needs.
Broken Veins ("Spider Veins") on the Legs
Spider veins on the legs are more common in women. They can be
red or blue.
Predisposing factors include:
- Hormones: contraceptive pills, pregnancy, hormonal replacement therapy
- Overweight
- Occupations that involve prolonged standing
Although spider veins are small, they sometimes signify problems
with bigger veins which may not be visible to the eyes,
therefore your dermatologist may advise you to undergo an
ultrasound scan first to map out all the faulty veins. Some of
these ¡§leaky¡¨ bigger veins need to be treated first for
successful treatment of the smaller ones.
Spider veins on legs can be treated with one of vascular lasers
e.g. the V-Star pulsed dye laser and the Gemini KTP/Nd:YAG
laser; or by injection into the vein, which is called ¡§sclerotherapy¡¨.
Angiomas
There are many different types of angiomas. An angioma is a
benign growth that consists of small blood vessels and it can be
located anywhere on the body. Some of the different types
include spider angiomas, cherry angiomas, and angiokeratomas.
The cause of most types of angiomas is not known. Cherry
angiomas (also called Campbell de Morgan spots) are often
associated with aging and do not have any known significance.
Spider angiomas are more common in childhood and during
pregnancy, and a few can appear on anyone. When present in large
numbers, the may warn of liver damage.
Angiomas do not need to be treated unless they bleed or are
bothering one. They can be treated with cautery or lasers
(hyperlinked to laser for blemishes).
