IPL can be very effective for the treatment of superficial telangiectasia and it is these types of skin concerns that can leave clients feeling self conscious about their skin’s ageing condition. Let’s talk more about the issue and using IPL for treating telangiectasia.
What are telangiectasia
Telangiectasia are visible red thin lines on the skin surface often appearing in spider like formations, hence the moniker ‘spider veins’. Telangiectasia are dilated or broken blood vessels often seen on the face, especially around the nose and across the cheeks. In the lower limbs, they may be associated with underlying varicose veins. They are classified in four different types; simple, arborising, spider and papular.
Why do we get them
The exact cause isn’t clear, although a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors is thought to be responsible. For some, they have been present since early adulthood, in other individuals they are also quite clearly related to excessive UV exposure. Telangiectasia are sometimes present post radiotherapy too.
Treating Telangiectasia with IPL
Facial telangiectasias usually respond well to IPL treatment. IPL therapy treats thread veins by emitting wavelengths of light that are filtered to target the haemoglobin in the thread veins/broken capillaries. The spider vein absorbs the pulsed light, which converts to heat and coagulates the vessel. If treatment is effective, the vein will gradually break down over a number of days until it disappears. Deeper, thicker veins may take longer to disappear completely. We recommend a course of 2-3 treatment sessions for treating telangiectasia. After 3 treatments, you are unlikely to see improvements by continuing.
