Laser for spider veins and Rosacea

 

Is laser beneficial in this field and how?

 

 

Laser can induce coagulation and homeostasis of benign vascular lesions like: port wine stains, hemangiomas,warts,teleangiectasia, rosacea, leg veins and spider veins.

 

Advantages of Laser in treating vascular lesions:

• stronger absorption in oxyhemoglobin results in selective heating of veins
• lower absorption in melanin results in safer use
• the YAG laser 1064 nm can penetrate as deep as 8 mm into tissue

Vessels size

• rosacea and port wine stains: 20-100 microns
• teleangiectasia 100 microns to 1mm
• venules 1mm-2mm
• varicosity :greater than 2 mm

How the laser works:

• heats the blood to above 70 Celsius
• breaks down the vessel wall
• shrink the vessel
• when blood flow stops  the vessel wall dies within 72 hours
• collagen surrounding the area contracts squeezing the vessel down

What should a our expectations be after laser treatment of vascular lesions?

• requires 3 treatments on average
• cannot treat vessels over 3 mm in diameter
• downtime varies with location of the vascular lesion 
• compression stockings must be worn for 5 -10 days after the procedure
• no hot tube or exercise for 10 days
• avoid suntanning for 1 week