The medical term for dilated facial veins is called telangiectasia (tel-an-gi-ec-ta-sia). The condition appears as small red or purple clusters of capillaries, often spidery in appearance. Unlike bruises, these broken capillaries do not disappear with time. These dilated vessels can appear anywhere on the body but often appear on the nose, cheek and chin. The causes of telangiectasia are unknown but it is thought that is can be a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as sun exposure, extreme cold, alcohol, pregnancy and aging. It is important to protect your skin from cold and use an SPF to prevent further damage.
The treatment for mild to moderate facial veins is laser therapy. Essentially the laser targets the vessel and seals it together. There is mild discomfort during the treatment and the recovery time is minimal.
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. This condition can be very embarrassing for people and limit the type of clothing that can be worn and cause embarrassment in social situations. Around 9 million people in North American suffer from hyperhidrosis yet many people do not talk about it or seek treatment. Sweat is excreted by endocrine glands to regulate body temperature, however many of the areas that are involved with excessive sweating like the hands and underarms are not involved in thermoregulation. There are over the counter topical agents available from a pharmacy and injectable treatments for hyperhidrosis.
Onabotulinumtoxin A is indicated for the treatment of excessive sweating through very small injections in the affected area. It works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that cause sweating to occur. As a result the sweat glands do not produce sweat. The treatment generally lasts 3-6 months. Health care coverage is available in Alberta for this treatment
