Spider veins and varicose veins take on different appearances on the surface of your skin, which means there are probably fundamental differences between the two vascular issues. Well, yes and no.
Visible veins, namely spider and varicose veins, affect up to 35% of the adult population in the United States, with women outpacing men by more than 2-to-1. Unfortunately, spider veins typically crop up in two locations — your legs and your face — which can pose cosmetic concerns.
Dr. Michael Kassouf and our team here at VeinMedic, with four offices in New York City, specialize in these types of surface veins, providing our patients with effective solutions for clearing away the unsightly webs of lines. While we can easily remedy facial veins, the best way to deal with these cosmetic concerns is to minimize or prevent them in the first place.
With that in mind, here are a few tips for preventing facial veins.
It’s no mystery that the sun’s ultraviolet rays can prematurely break down your skin, leading to sagging and wrinkles. But, did you know that the sun also causes facial veins?
When your skin is exposed to the sun, your blood vessels can enlarge and rise to the surface, which is why spider veins develop on highly exposed areas like your face.
To offset this, we recommend that you practice vigilant sun protection — whether it’s covering your face with a hat, wearing sunscreen, or avoiding the peak sun hours altogether. Not only will these efforts help you prevent facial veins, but they also will help protect you against premature aging.
Another cause of facial veins is extreme temperature changes, which can cause smaller blood vessels to rise to the surface and burst. While it may be hard to avoid the temperature changes that come with the weather, you can shield your face in extreme cold with a scarf.
Another example of an extreme temperature change is using hot water to wash your face. We recommend that you use lukewarm water when it comes to the sensitive skin on your face.
When you drink alcohol, your blood vessels can dilate, which is why many people appear flushed when they drink. We recommend limiting your alcohol consumption to protect your skin from facial veins, especially if you’re prone to these types of veins.
If you have rosacea, it’s important that you manage the condition as best you can to avoid permanent facial veins. The best way to do this is to see a dermatologist and to understand your triggers for a rosacea flare-up (spicy foods, for example).
If you develop facial veins despite your best preventive efforts, the good news is that we offer two effective treatments:
In both cases, when we eliminate your facial veins, rest assured that your blood reroutes itself to healthier blood vessels deeper in your tissue.
If you’d like to learn more about preventing and/or treating facial veins, please contact one of our New York locations in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge, Manhattan's Washington Heights, Elmhurst in Queens, or Mount Hope in the Bronx, to set up an appointment.
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