Thread Vein & Facial Redness Treatment
Thread veins, broken capillaries and rosacea redness
Thread veins are the fine red or purple lines that show through the skin, most often across the nose, cheeks and chin. They are small blood vessels that have widened permanently and stopped closing. They do not fade on their own, makeup only covers them, and they tend to be joined by more over time.
We treat them with the vascular settings on our Lumenis Stellar M22 at our clinic on East End Road in East Finchley.
What we treat
- Thread veins and broken capillaries on the nose, cheeks and chin
- Diffuse facial redness and flushing
- The visible vessels that come with rosacea
- Cherry angiomas, the small raised red dots
- Some spider naevi, after assessment.
How it works
The M22 sends filtered light into the skin at a wavelength absorbed by the haemoglobin in the vessel rather than by the skin around it. The vessel heats, collapses and is cleared by the body over the following weeks. Surrounding skin is left alone.
Individual thread veins on the nose often respond dramatically, sometimes after one session. Diffuse redness across the cheeks behaves differently: it improves steadily over a course rather than disappearing at once.
Rosacea, honestly
If your redness is rosacea, this is worth reading before you book.
IPL treats the visible blood vessels and the background redness well, and for many people it is the single most effective thing available for that. What it does not do is cure rosacea. Rosacea is a long-term condition. The vessels we close stay closed, but the condition continues, new vessels appear, and most people need a maintenance session once or twice a year to stay where they got to.
It also does not treat the bumps and pustules of rosacea. That side of it responds to prescription treatment, which can be discussed and prescribed here since Ehsan is an independent prescriber. We are not permitted to name prescription medicines on a website, so bring it up at your consultation.
What to expect
Consultation. Free, with a skin assessment and a patch test before any treatment.
Sessions. Single thread veins, often one to three. Diffuse redness and rosacea, usually three to five, then maintenance.
During. A warm snap against the skin, and a bright flash. Most people find it very manageable and no anaesthetic is used.
Afterwards. Redness and mild swelling for a few hours, occasionally into the next day. Treated vessels may darken or look more obvious briefly before they clear. You can wear makeup the following day.
Cost. From £180 per session, with course pricing available. We price the course at consultation rather than let you find out session by session.
Reasons for recurrence
Thread veins that are properly closed do not reopen. New ones form for the same reasons the first ones did: sun exposure, alcohol, heat, spicy food, extreme temperature changes, and for some people simply genetics. Daily SPF is the single most useful thing you can do to slow it down.
Afterwards. Redness and mild swelling for a few hours, occasionally into the next day. Treated vessels may darken or look more obvious briefly before they clear. You can wear makeup the following day.
- Recent tan, real or fake
- Pregnancy
- Certain photosensitising medicines, which we check at consultation
- Active infection or broken skin in the area
- Leg veins. Larger leg veins need sclerotherapy or a vascular referral, not facial IPL. We will tell you rather than treat something that will not respond.
Free consultation, skin assessment and patch test before any treatment. Book online or call 020 3925 1232.
Free consultation with a skin assessment and patch test before any treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
A quick hot snap per pulse. Most people rate it as easily tolerable and no numbing is needed.
How many sessions?
One to three for isolated thread veins. Three to five for widespread redness or rosacea, plus maintenance.
Will they come back?
The treated vessel does not. New ones can form, so most people have a top-up session once a year or so.
Can you treat thread veins on my legs?
Facial IPL is not the right tool for leg veins. We will assess and refer you rather than sell you something that will not work.
Is it safe with rosacea?
Yes, and it is one of the better options for the vascular part of it. It does not treat the spots, and it does not cure the condition.
Can I wear makeup afterwards?
Not for the rest of the day, but usually the next day is fine.
Why do the veins look worse straight after?
They can darken as they clot before clearing. It settles over one to two weeks.
Do I need a patch test?
Yes, always, before the first treatment.
Can I have this in summer?
Only with no recent sun exposure and no tan. Autumn and winter are easier.
Is one session ever enough?
For a single prominent vessel on the nose, sometimes yes. We will give you a realistic number at consultation.