How to Get the Red Out
Blog by Julie Miller, R.N.
I
f
you have unwanted dilated blood vessels or red dots on your face or body, there are some treatment options for you.
Telangiectasia are small dilated blood vessels, most commonly noted on the face, but can be anywhere. On the legs, we usually call them spider veins. Factors that contribute to them are: genetics, sun/wind exposure, medications, hormones, trauma and steroids. Cherry Angiomas tend to be more circular, various sizes and the larger ones raise up. They are thought to be genetic and harmless but annoying if in the path of a razor where they may bleed.
Back in the day, we used the cattle prod (whoops, no not really) but it is an electrically charged tiny needle that caused vessels to coagulate. (Occasionally we still use this, it is like getting a little zip off the toaster).
Nowadays, however, we are more high tech. In the Keizer office we have the 1064 YAG laser. All lasers are attracted to a specific chromophore, in this case being blood. The energy is attracted to the blood vessel wall causing inflammation and scar tissue. This closes off the vessel and then the body breaks it down and they fade away over a period of about one month. In our Salem office, we have the VBeam laser, that also works on vessels. Swelling and bruising may occur with the Vbeam. With the YAG you are usually a little pink or a larger vessel may bruise.
“Don’t I need that blood vessel?" If you have ever seen the
Body Worlds
exhibit you know the answer. Body Worlds is an exhibit with cadavers and different parts of the body dissected. Super cool, at least to me. My favorite part of the exhibit is the vessels. We have so many that it is a total mesh and you can see the outline of the body part just in vessels. (OMSI had it a few years ago and it is also at the Luxor in Vegas)
For leg veins the gold standard is sclerotherapy, which is injecting an irritating solution into the unwanted vessel, which like the laser, causes inflammation, scar tissue and the body breaks down the none functioning vessel.
If you need to get the red out, just let us know.
