Thread veins or spider veins, medically known as telangiectasia, are tiny blood vessels that most commonly appear across the nose and cheeks in both men and women. They are usually purple/blue or red in colour and are considered harmless, although many people find them cosmetically dissatisfying so seek ways to remove them. They can be especially common in men around the nose, and can give the impression of alcohol dependency which can cause embarrassment. They are often caused by sun exposure and ageing, but also associated with rosacea.
Laser and light technologies have been developed to treat people with a variety of different skin problems including pigmented (skin colour, birthmark) and vascular (vein) problems.
The use of high frequency microwave energy has become available in the UK for the treatment of thread veins and other skin lesions through thermocoagulation. An example of this is Veinwave or Thermavein.
ThermaVein™ uses Veinwave™ technology which is already proven within the medical field for the process known as thermocoagulation which seals the walls of thread veins with a micro-current of heat, causing them to permanently disappear. It can also be used to treat other skin lesions.
