What are rosacea and thread veins?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that mainly occurs on the face. It affects both men and women, and because it is so visible, it can be a source of embarrassment and may impact the sufferer’s self-confidence and their lifestyle.
Rosacea is commonly experienced on the nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, and sometimes on the neck and chest. The first signs of rosacea are redness that lasts only a few minutes each time. The skin may also feel hot or painful, while it’s happening.
This can develop into burning and stinging sensations and skin in the affected areas may remain red for longer, or become permanently red. Other more advanced symptoms include papules and pustules (two kinds of spots) and small broken blood vessels becoming visible on the skin.
Another condition commonly linked with rosacea is thread veins (also called spider veins). This is where small clusters of blood vessels become visible on the face or legs and it’s estimated that 80% of adults have thread veins at some point in their lives.
Facial thread veins pose no danger to overall health, but they may cause embarrassment. Thread veins on the legs are usually harmless, but may be the result of an underlying condition like venous insufficiency, which can cause serious health problems. Anyone experiencing thread veins in their legs should visit their GP to have them checked.
What causes rosacea and thread veins?
The exact causes of rosacea and thread veins aren’t known, though it is thought it may be linked to abnormalities in blood vessels.
Thread veins occur when capillaries (the smallest kind of blood vessel) become damaged or dilated, which means they can be seen as fine red or blue lines on the skin’s surface.
Because the causes are poorly understood, it is more useful to understand the common triggers for rosacea and thread veins. These are things that can make either condition worse:
Anyone with rosacea who also has any of the following symptoms should seek urgent medical help, as these may be signs of keratitis: blurred vision, redness in the eye, eye pain or light sensitivity.Â
How to get rid of rosacea?
Our qualified practitioners can help individuals to understand what triggers their rosacea and find the best ways to gently care for their skin. At Hannah London, we offer the following treatments to soothe rosacea and help patients recover their self-confidence.
At-home Self Care remedies
Our practitioners offer advice on at-home treatments including:
Prescribed topical medications that are applied as gels, creams or solutions will calm and soothe the symptoms of rosacea. Soolantra is a topical cream applied once per day, for example, and is used to provide immediate relief and also for long-term management of rosacea.
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Chemical peels are a professional application of acid to remove the top layers of skin and allows healthier skin to form in its place. Those suffering with rosacea may have very sensitive skin, therefore having a qualified practitioner select the right type of peel is essential.
Find out more about chemical peels for rosacea.
Microneedling uses surgical needles to create microscopic injuries to the skin. This promotes collagen formation, which stimulates healing and also increases the absorption of any topical treatments, therefore maximising their effectiveness.
Find out more about microneedling for rosacea
Polynucleotides (also called biofillers or biostimulators), which are like a food or medicine for your cells, can help treat rosacea and redness.
Find out more about polynucleotides for rosacea
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a laser therapy using light to stimulate collagen reformation in the cells without creating any injury (unlike microneedling).
Find out more about IPL for rosacea
Botox (botulinum toxin) injections to the top layer of the skin can reduce redness and have been shown to be effective when other treatments have not produced the desired results.
Find out more about botox for rosacea
How to get rid of thread veins (or spider veins)?
Our practitioners offer advice on at-home treatments for thread veins, including:
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) can also be very effective. The laser pulse treatment stimulates collagen reformation in the affected area of skin, stimulating the body’s natural healing process.
Find out more about IPL for rosacea
Meet one of our doctors for a consultation to discuss your treatment options
Welcome to
Hannah London
We’re a team of aesthetic and medical specialists lead by Dr Kaywaan Khan. We provide award-winning facial, body and hair treatments to clients across London.
Our ethos is to offer cutting-edge treatments in a luxurious setting, ensuring that you leave our clinic feeling pampered and looking fabulous.
