Facial Vessels & Angiomas

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Facial vessels (broken capillaries or spider veins) and cherry angiomas are common and harmless. They appear when vascular changes occur in the epidermis. Causes include aging, sun damage, and genetics, and can also be influenced by lifestyle choices. Thin, fragile vessels stay visible because the skin becomes less elastic with age and because of cumulative sun exposure. These vessels become more apparent as skin ages.

Laser treatment is often the best option because it targets blood vessels precisely. Lasers deliver concentrated light that is absorbed by haemoglobin in the blood, heating and collapsing the vessel so the body can naturally clear it away.

Benefits of laser therapy:

  • High precision — treats vessels and angiomas while preserving surrounding tissue.

  • Minimal downtime — most patients resume normal activities quickly.

  • Effective for many types and sizes — different lasers address fine capillaries, larger veins, and small angiomas.

  • Lower risk of scarring compared with surgical removal or aggressive cautery.

Multiple sessions will be needed for best results, and a consultation ensures the right laser type and settings for your skin tone and condition.

Options to treat facial vessels and angiomas at midwest:

How do you decide which device to use on my vessels?

Both Nd:YAG and Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) technologies are highly effective for treating visible blood vessels, but they work best for different types of vascular concerns. Choosing the right laser depends on the vessel’s depth, size, and colour, as well as the patient’s skin type and treatment goals.

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL)

  • Best for:

    • Fine red facial capillaries

    • Diffuse redness

    • Early or mild rosacea

    • Small, superficial telangiectasia

  • Why choose PDL?

    • PDL uses a wavelength that is strongly absorbed by oxyhaemoglobin, making it extremely effective for red, surface-level vessels.

    • It is highly precise for delicate facial redness and very small capillaries close to the skin’s surface.

  • Limitations:

    • Less effective for deeper or larger vessels

    • May cause more visible bruising (“purpura”) in some settings

    • Not ideal for leg veins or deeper blue vessels

Nd:YAG Laser

  • Best for:

    • Leg spider veins (we see best results with Sclerotherapy first, then treat remaining leg veins that are too small to inject with nd:yag)

    • Deeper blue or purple vessels

    • Larger-calibre facial veins

    • Venous lakes

    • Vessels that do not respond to PDL

    • Patients with darker skin where safety is a priority

  • Why choose Nd:YAG?

    • Nd:YAG uses a longer wavelength that penetrates more deeply into the skin, allowing it to target vessels below the surface without excessive absorption in the upper layers.

    • It treats deeper vascular structures and is safer for a wider range of skin tones.

    • It generally carries less risk of bruising compared with PDL and is effective for both facial and leg veins.

An easy summary:

  • Red, fine, superficial vessels → PDL

  • Blue, deeper, or larger vessels → Nd:YAG

  • Mixed presentations → A combination approach (using both lasers or staged treatments) may provide the best outcome.

PDL (Pulse Dye Laser) is the gold standard for very superficial red vascular concerns and delicate facial redness. Nd:YAG is the workhorse for deeper, larger, or blue/purple vessels and is safer across a broad range of skin tones. For many patients—especially those with mixed vessel types—a tailored combination approach delivers the best results.

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