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Telangiectasias describes the whitening of small blood vessels that leads to a pattern of red lines forming on the skin.
They form over a period of time and often happen in parts of the body that are visible to the public, including the face, fingers, and inside the mouth.
They can be painful and are not attractive to look at. Because of this, many people opt to have them removed.
They are removed by damaging the blood vessel that is creating them. As a result, the blood vessel collapses or it scars over.
The red marks and patterns that it produces on the skin then dissipate or disappear altogether.
There is a difference between telangiectasias that will appear on the skin and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The latter forms on vital organs and can lead to severe hemorrhaging.
Researchers are still trying to find the cause of telangiectasias. Some think that it is linked to the amount of time a person spends in the sun.
This is because it usually shows itself in areas, like the face, that are exposed to constant sunlight.
In addition to sun exposure, telangiectasias has been linked to:
- Alcoholism, which negatively affects the way that blood flows in blood vessels
- Pregnancy, which drastically increases the amount of pressure on blood vessels
- Aging, which leads to a weakening of blood vessels
Telangiectasias are painful, but in most cases they are not life-threatening.
They can have an emotional impact on a person’s self-esteem since they are very unattractive.
In addition to causing pain, symptoms include itching and red marks on the skin.
Hemorrhagic telangiectasia can lead to nosebleeds, shortness of breath, blood in the stool, strokes, and seizures.
The only way that doctors can diagnose telangiectasia is by looking at the clinical signs of the disease.
When a doctor sees the trademark red marks aligned on the skin, they will investigate to make sure that there is not an underlying disorder that is leading to the disease.
Some of these underlying diseases could include Sturridge Weber disease. This is a very rare disease that leads to a person having a port wine stain birthmark. It also creates problems with the nervous system.
Another underlying disorder could be spider angiomas. This is when blood vessels collect in an abnormal way close to the surface of the skin.
Doctors may also check for xeroderma pigmentosa. Patients who have this rare condition have skin and eyes that are very sensitive to ultraviolet light.
Treatment procedures revolve around changing the way telangiectasias appears on the skin.
These include laser ablation, which is a procedure that uses lasers to widen the blood vessels and to seal them, and surgery that involves completely removing widened blood vessels.
Proper treatment can drastically improve the way a person’s skin appears.
After treatment, a person is able to continue with their daily routine and live a normal life without the embarrassment and discomfort that telangiectasias can cause.
Contact Us
For more information about vein diseases, contact Miami Vein Center today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Almeida, a board certified vascular surgeon and his team.
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