If broken capillaries and veins have you feeling frustrated, rest assured there is a treatment for you. Both IPL and Laser Excel V are proven to reduce redness and pigmented skin spots, meaning you can walk out feeling more confident and more radiant in your own skin. But first, it’s important to understand what broken capillaries are and how they come about. What are broken capillaries? Dilated or enlarged blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin are the cause of broken capillaries, which on the surface seem just like little red splotches that don’t go away — even when you’re not blushing! Commonly affected areas include your nose, cheeks, and chin. What causes them? Genetics can take a lot of the blame here – if you have fair skin and rosacea, you’re more susceptible to these little redness discolourations. But broken capillaries are actually caused by windburn, extreme temperature changes, excessive drinking or smoking — especially UV damage and trauma to the skin, such as popping a pimple too forcefully. So if genes and harsh external temperatures are both working against you, chances are there will be some broken capillaries popping up in your life. How do you prevent them? In the end, the best treatment is prevention, so that means limiting UV and weather damage as much as possible. Use good quality broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen and protect your face in cold weather with scarves, high collars and wash your face with lukewarm water rather than scalding hot. How do you treat broken capillaries? While they might not be completely reversible, broken capillaries can benefit from Laser Excel V treatment and Intense Pulsed Light or IPL too, so talk to us in the clinic if you have dilated or enlarged blood vessels that need some extra attention. Laser Excel V Laser Excel V is the most advanced aesthetic technology that combines two powerfully precise lasers to target and eliminate vascular concerns (redness, unsightly veins) and benign pigmented lesions (age spots, sun spots, discolouration) on the face and body. Your therapist will select one of excel V’s two lasers and customise the treatment settings to target the colour and depth of your skin concern. Most treatments are finished in just a few minutes. Treatments can feel similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin. Depending on the procedure, a cooling treatment tip will be in contact with the skin to protect and provide comfort to the area. Redness and/or swelling can be expected following treatment and will resolve within a few days. Treated brown spots will darken and slough off within 3 to 6 days. For full face treatments, swelling will peak 24 to 48 hours post treatment and usually resolves within a few days. Photorejuvenation (IPL – Intense Pulsed Light) IPL works by emitting a range of lightwaves that break down the vessel walls of the haemoglobin, causing them to fragment and be reabsorbed by the body, meaning any discoloured blotches in the face, neck, chest or hands will become much less visible. IPL works on the following: – Lightening and reducing redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and “broken” blood vessels on the face, neck and chest. – Lightening and removing “sun spots”, “age spots”, and pigmentation on the face, neck, chest, hands and other areas of the body. The process starts by applying a cold gel to the area to be treated, and appropriate eye protection will be provided. The smooth crystal surface of the IPL handpiece is gently placed for each pulse of IPL. You may feel a slight sting, like the snapping of a small rubber band, but people often report the first treatment to be the ‘zingiest’, with following treatments less invasive. When it comes to IPL it pays to know you’re in good hands. Total Body Concept uses world-leading technology from Lumenis M22 which is a safe, non-invasive solution with little interruption to your busy lifestyle. Get in touch with one of our specialised IPL/Laser therapists and let them customise a treatment according to your skin type and desired results with maximum safety.
