Blood flows through your circulatory system to carry proteins, oxygen, and other essential materials throughout the body. The veins and blood vessels that run through this system are present in your skin, and problems with circulation can lead to blemishes like varicose veins.
This condition mainly affects the legs, leaving them discolored and unsightly.
The treatment of varicose veins varies depending on the severity of the problem. However, laser treatments like intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy might be an effective option to eliminate this issue.
At their three New York City locations, Dr. Javier Zelaya and the dedicated staff at Skinworks Dermatology can help if you’re struggling with problems related to varicose veins.
Varicose veins result from weakening of the valves and walls in the veins. Rising blood pressure causes the veins to get bigger and bulge. When this happens, a vein can’t move blood properly, causing it to pool and lead to more swelling, bulging, and twisting of the vein.
Several factors lead to this weakening, including obesity, restrictive clothing, vein pressure from extended periods of standing, hormones, and aging.
Other people more likely to get varicose veins include women, those with a family history of varicose veins, tobacco users, and those with health conditions, like certain types of tumors.
Laser treatments use focused light to address skin problems like discoloration, sun damage, acne scars, and wrinkles.
IPL therapy can perform many of the same tasks as other laser treatments. But it works on varicose veins by using focused light on multiple wavelengths, scattering the beam to penetrate deeper into your skin.
This process generates heat that damages the walls of the problem veins, causing them to shrink and vanish without harming surrounding veins and other tissue. We use IPL therapy and other laser treatments to manage varicose veins and many other skin problems.
To begin, we clean the treatment area and apply a cool gel. You’re given glasses to protect your eyes, then we use the IPL laser on your skin. The sensation has been compared to a rubber band hitting your skin.
The process can take up to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area. Changes may not show up right away, and it can take a few weeks to see full results.
Varicose veins aren’t generally dangerous, but they’re unsightly and can even be painful. When you’re ready to have them removed, call the office in Maspeth, Chelsea, or Park Slope, or request your appointment online.
