Facial Redness from Spider Veins

Facial Redness, Spider Veins, and Professional Advice

No one wants to look in the mirror and see that their face looks red and blotchy, yet chronic facial redness plagues many men and women of all ages. Let’s take a look at the core causes of facial redness and what you can do to treat this uncomfortable condition.

What Causes Facial Redness?

Facial redness is usually caused by a condition called telangiectasia. This occurs when blood vessels become widened or damaged in some way and show up as overall facial redness or blue, purple, or red lines on the face. These “spider veins” as they are also referred to, become apparent because the broken blood vessels are close to the surface of the skin.

Why People Get Spider Veins in Their Face

There are a number of reasons why spider veins on the face may appear. For most people, the main cause can be traced back to one of the following:

• Weather or pressure changes: Especially when they happen all of a sudden, extreme changes in the weather or pressure can sometimes alter the body’s circulation. This can burst blood vessels. Likewise, if you suddenly sneeze in a violent way or cough hard for a long period of time, blood vessels may also end up bursting and cause redness.
• Excessive exposure to the sun: Being in the sun for a long period of time can cause blood vessels to burst.
• Genetics: If your parent or grandparent struggled with this problem, chances are you may too.
• Pollutants and irritants in the environment: Exposure to certain chemicals can damage blood vessels and cause them to become more obvious.
• Rosacea: Those who struggle with rosacea (redness caused by enlarged veins) may also struggle with broken veins.

Tips on Prevention & Slowing the Damage

Here are our top tips on preventing and slowing the progression of spider veins and redness:

• Drink alcohol only in moderation
• Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when out in the sun
• When playing sports and doing other physical activities, wear the proper protective gear and helmets
• Avoid drastic changes in heat
• Seek medical assistance as soon as you notice serious signs of chronic redness and spider veins

Common Treatments for Redness Due to Spider Veins

Specialized vein treatment in San Luis, CA can help diminish or eradicate the appearance of spider veins and facial redness. Your unique condition will first be assessed and diagnosed before a focused treatment plan is created for you. This plan may include non-invasive treatments such as laser therapy, sclerotherapy, intense pulsed light, and other solutions.

Get Treatment at Premier Heart & Vein Care in California

No matter what vein-related challenges you’re facing, our staff at Premier Heart & Vein Care will do our best to provide you with the best-quality care and service.

Meet Our Vein Physician in San Luis Obispo, CA

Dr. Ken Stevens is a board-certified internal medicine, phlebology, and cardiovascular disease doctor. His extensive experience and expertise in the fields of cardiovascular treatment and varicose vein and venous insufficiency treatment have made him a premier physician in these areas.

If you are struggling with varicose veins or venous insufficiency, contact us today to learn about our treatment plans and book an appointment.

What Are the Warning Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis

An Overview of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that develops when you have a blood clot deep inside your veins. While DVT can occur in different parts of the body, it commonly occurs in leg veins. This condition can become a medical emergency known as pulmonary embolism if a clot breaks away and reaches your lungs, so it’s important to seek treatment for DVT. Knowing more about it, including the signs of it, can help you determine if you should see a vein physician.

Symptoms and Causes

You might not have any symptoms if you have DVT, so it can be difficult to know if you have this condition. If you do experience symptoms, they might be one or more of the following:

• Swelling in the area where the affected veins are located
• Discomfort or pain, such as cramping, in the affected area
• Skin discoloration in the affected leg or area
• Skin that feels warm to the touch in the affected area

You should seek emergency medical care if you develop any symptoms of pulmonary embolism, which can occur when you have DVT. Signs of this condition include the following:

• Shortness of breath that occurs suddenly or rapid breathing
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Discomfort or soreness in your chest, especially when coughing or inhaling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Seeing blood when you cough

DVT can occur when a blood clot forms deep inside at least one of your veins. Your risk of having DVT can be higher due to certain risk factors, such as being over 60 years old or having a previous vein injury. Other risk factors include sitting too long, being overweight, going through pregnancy, having prolonged bed rest, and being a smoker.

Steps to Prevent DVT

Since DVT can lead to serious complications, it’s important to lower your risk of getting it. You can help prevent DVT in several ways, such as eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight or losing extra pounds if you’re overweight. Other ways to prevent DVT include getting regular physical activity, avoiding wearing tight clothing, and avoiding sitting for long periods of time.

Common Treatment Types

DVT treatment involves stopping blood clots from becoming bigger and breaking loose, as well as lowering your risk of having this condition again. The kind of treatment you might need for this condition will depend on how serious it is and whether or not you have any clots that have broken loose. Common types of treatment for DVT include blood thinners to prevent clots from getting bigger and stop more from forming. Medications that break up clots are sometimes used in more serious cases of DVT to lower the risk of pulmonary embolism. Other types of treatment include compression stockings and vena cava filters that prevent clots from getting to your lungs.

Schedule a Consult at Premier Heart and Vein Care in California

If you have any symptoms of DVT, please contact us to schedule an appointment and meet our vein physicians in San Luis Obispo, CA. You can also visit us online to view our before and after results for vein problems.

What to Expect When Treating Lymphedema in the Legs

An Overview of Lymphedema

If you’re unfamiliar with lymphedema, this overview can help you recognize the condition. It normally describes swelling in one of your arms or legs, or sometimes in both arms or both legs. There can be varying causes, but it is most commonly the result of the removal of lymph nodes, commonly stemming from cancer treatment. This causes blockages in the lymphatic system, which leads to swelling by preventing lymph fluid from properly draining.

Symptoms & Causes

This condition can happen in the arms or the legs, and there are several common symptoms to watch for.

• Swelling of the entire limb including fingers or toes, which can vary from mild to severe
• Restricted motion
• Aching and discomfort
• Heavy or tight feelings
• Thickening or hardening of the skin, which is called fibrosis
• Recurrent infections

Causes of lymphedema most often stem from surgery or damage to lymph nodes. This type of lymphedema is referred to as “secondary” lymphedema because underlying causes may be unrelated to the condition originally though they’ve caused damage to the lymph nodes. Some of these causes include:

• Infection that damages lymph nodes or restricts the flow of lymph fluid
• Surgery to remove lymph nodes—most often cancer surgery, which can result in lymph node removal to check for cancer spread
• Cancer, if cancerous growths restrict or block lymph vessels
• Radiation treatment, which can inflame and scar lymph nodes

While much rarer, there are primary causes of lymphedema, too. Typically, these are inherited conditions.

• Late onset lymphedema, which is very rare and typically occurs after age 35
• Meige’s disease, which can cause lymphedema during puberty or pregnancy
• Milroy’s disease, which is a congenital disorder beginning in infancy that results in lymph nodes forming abnormally.

Steps to Prevent Lymphedema

There is a lot that you can do to prevent lymphedema. For instance, staying fit promotes good circulation to help lymph fluid drain, and hygiene can help prevent secondary infections. Here are some other precautions to take if you have lymphedema:

• Avoid tight clothing that can restrict circulation—including blood pressure cuffs. Ask for blood pressure to be taken using an unaffected limb.
• Elevation can help to prevent fluid buildup or to drain fluid.
• Protect affected limbs because cuts and other injuries can become infected.
• Avoid extreme temperatures on the affected limb, including the use of ice or heat.
• Make sure to get plenty of rest. Stretching and moderate exercise can help, but in the aftermath of surgery or other treatments, you should avoid strenuous exercise.

Common Treatment Types

There is no cure for lymphedema, but it can be managed using a variety of techniques—particularly exercise. Light exercise improves circulation, which can promote lymph fluid drainage. Other treatments include:

• Wrapping the affected limb to encourage lymph fluid to flow toward your trunk. This means wrapping tighter around fingers or toes, and progressively looser along the length of your limb.
• Compression garments put pressure on the limb, which encourages the flow of lymph fluid.
• Manual lymph drainage is a massage technique that can help move lymph fluid away from your arm or leg. This treatment is typically administered by someone specifically trained in lymph drainage.
• Pneumatic compression can help, too. This is a type of sleeve that covers the affected limb, featuring a pump to inflate the sleeve and place pressure on the limb.
• Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is a combined approach to treatment that blends lifestyle changes with some of the other treatments listed above.

Get Treatment at Premier Heart & Vein Care in California

Meet Our Vein Physician in San Luis Obispo, CA

If you’re suffering with lymphedema, we encourage you to learn more about our lymphedema procedures. This is a manageable condition, and a diagnosis plus the right treatments can help you get relief. Contact us today for a consultation or to schedule an appointment.