Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL): A Bright Solution to Spider Veins

Updated on: August 18, 2014

Patients in Rockford, Illinois are presented with several treatment options when suffering from venous diseases. This can be an extremely embarrassing condition for many patients, which makes finding a solution a top priority. Often times, elevating the legs helps to relieve the pain associated with varicose veins, but patients are sometimes not satisfied with such a temporary solution. This leads them to seek out more effective and permanent solutions to venous diseases such as varicose veins and spider veins.

Spider veins are mostly of a cosmetic concern for some women. They are smaller than varicose veins and superficial to the skin. They do not come with other symptoms and any pain experienced is not from spider veins, but from another condition. If patients experience pain in the feet or legs, they should consult their doctor to determine the cause.

Abnormal blood flow and a weakening of the blood vessel wall are common causes of spider veins. Conditions that place pressure on the vein wall such as weight gain, pregnancy or prolonged sitting or standing may contribute to the development of spider veins. Spider veins may also be genetic and increase with age. Estrogen may weaken the walls of blood vessels, so pregnancy may be a factor in developing spider veins, most commonly in the second trimester.

The application of intense pulse light expands beyond treatment for spider veins. IPL has been used as an anti-aging treatment, to treat rosacea as well as other medical and cosmetic applications. Its value in vascular lesions deeper in the skin has been recognized by vein specialists in Rockford, Illinois and around the country. Thanks to this technology, countless patients have found relief from spider veins.

IPL may be an option for patients who have not found success using sclerotherapy or laser therapy as treatment methods. When these options do not treat the superficial vein, intense pulse light may be used by a vascular specialist.

The treatment works by selectively damaging or destroying small spider veins or vascular birthmarks. It is a non-invasive alternative to other treatments commonly used to treat spider veins. Using a handheld device, a pulse of intense and concentrated energy is directed to the blood vessels under the skin to effectively eliminate spider veins.

Patients looking for more information should consult a vein specialist in Rockford, Illinois. These medical professionals possess the knowledge and experience to answer any questions and address concerns that some patients may have regarding intense pulse light therapy.

Learn more about IPL in Rockford, Illinois.

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