Capillaries, telangiectasias and ruby spots
Telangiectasias are small, dilated and linear blood vessels that usually appear on the cheeks, nose or lower extremities. There are different reasons why they appear, including sun exposure, the role of hormones or the presence of skin pathologies such as acne or rosacea.
Ruby spots (or ‘cherry angiomas’) are benign proliferations of vessels that appear as small protruding red dots on the skin. They are usually numerous, are located on the trunk and are very common in middle to advanced life.
Both types of lesions have no implication beyond aesthetics, since they are clearly visible formations in the area where they sit, especially if the patient’s skin is light. On some occasions, ruby spots can bleed if they are accidentally scratched. They do not disappear spontaneously and minimal treatment is required for their removal.
The treatment of choice for telangiectasias and ruby spots is laser removal, as it allows comfortable, fast and effective removal of lesions without causing scarring of the skin. Among the most effective and safe devices is the 1,064 nm YAG neodymium laser. On some occasions it is possible to treat them using other techniques, such as cryotherapy – shaving or electrocoagulation, although these procedures must be practiced with expertise since they have a potential risk of leaving a scar.
→ The 1.064 NM YAG Neodymium laser, used in Dermatology Barcelona, is one of the first lasers approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA) for aesthetic use due to its quality and safety profile. See more details here.
LASER REMOVAL OF VASCULAR LESIONS
For more information on laser capillary removal, click here.
Bibliographic references
Hare McCoppin HH, Goldberg DJ. Laser treatment of facial telangiectases: an update. Dermatol Surg. 2010 Aug; 36(8):1221-30.