Red veins/capillaries or vascularity (also referred to as spider veins) are a common concern and one that our Medical Skin Therapists see regularly. To understand the ins and outs of how they’re formed, the possible causes and treatment, we caught up with our super-talented Skin Therapist Bryony for a brief run down…

What are capillaries/vascularity/spider veins? 

These are widened blood vessels visible near the skin’s surface, also known are telangiectasia or referred to as spider veins. Often harmless but sometimes associated with several medical conditions.

What causes them to form?

These can be caused by a vast number of reasons, although chronic uv/environmental exposure is one of the leading causes we see in clinic. Smoking, anything that causes chronic inflammation in the skin, repeated sinus infections, pregnancy, trauma. Anything that accelerates a breakdown of supportive tissue, such as collagen and elastin, means the tissue is more vulnerable to damage, thereby exacerbating the condition as we age.  Often it is a combination of these factors over a long period of time that will cause them.  And as the skin becomes thinner vessels are more visiable.  Some people are more genetically predisposed to telangiectasia – people of English, Scottish, and Irish descent and people who carry the mc1R gene (redhead gene).

What can IPL and Laser treatment do to help? 

IPL and laser work by using light energy to target specific chromophores (targets) in the skin. Pigments in hair and skin are targeted but also hemoglobin (blood).  The blood supply is cauterized, and the vessels shut down.  This often requires a series of treatments taken between four to 6 weeks. It is common to start with IPL treatment and then treat stubborn vessels individually if needed with laser.