Sclerotherapy

An intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacial is a type of cosmetic dermatology that uses light therapy to improve skin tone, getting rid of brown spots, red marks, and visible veins.

The light therapy works by targeting, heating, and destroying the pigmented cells under the skin. The damaged cells rise to the surface of your skin and create a temporary dark lesion that flakes away.

Central Utah Dermatology can perform IPL photofacials to treat the face, hands, neck, and chest.

An IPL photofacial has many benefits. Most importantly, it’s a non-invasive cosmetic treatment that revitalizes your look without surgery or downtime. The team at Central Utah Dermatology uses IPL photofacials to treat many common skin concerns, including:

• Hyperpigmentation

• Age spots, liver spots, and sunspots

• Broken blood vessels

• Spider veins

• Freckles

• Port wine stains

• Rosacea

• Melasma

• Birthmarks

An IPL photofacial may also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The heat energy produced by the IPL tool stimulates the production of collagen, which is a structural protein responsible for your skin’s youthful strength and elasticity.

An IPL photofacial is a safe cosmetic treatment that causes very little discomfort. During your treatment at Central Utah Dermatology, your provider places the handheld IPL device on your skin and activates the light energy.

You may feel a snapping sensation as the light hits your skin. If you’re sensitive to pain, the team at Central Utah Dermatology adjusts your cosmetic treatment to minimize discomfort.

IPL photofacials take 15-20 minutes. Your skin may feel warm and tight and appear slightly reddened following your treatment, but these side effects resolve within a few hours and you can cover any redness with makeup.

You can go back to your usual routine after your photofacial.

You may see improvements in your skin within a week or so after your IPL photofacial, with continued improvements over the next several weeks.

The team at Central Utah Dermatology may recommend a series 2-6 IPL photofacial sessions every four weeks, and then touchup treatments as needed.

To schedule your IPL photofacial consultation, call the nearest Central Utah Dermatology office or book a visit online today.

Sclerotherapy effectively reduces and eliminates spider veins and small varicose veins. The treatment involves injections into the affected veins. The injection contains a sclerosant (fluid or chemical foam) that irritates the inner walls of the veins.

The veins collapse, stopping blood from flowing through them. Your body automatically reroutes the blood through healthy veins. The collapsed veins fade and gradually disappear in the weeks and months following your treatment.

Central Utah Dermatology offer sclerotherapy as one of several options for treating spider veins and varicose veins:

Spider veins

Spider veins are networks of tiny blood vessels that make patterns on your skin like a spider web. They’re usually red, blue, or purple. While not harmful, people often find them unsightly.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are also shades of red, blue, or purple, but they’re much more significant than spider veins. They often stand out from the skin, forming twisted coils that may be tender to touch. Your legs might feel tired and heavy.

If you have severe varicose veins, you might get leg pain, skin discoloration, and leg swelling.

Varicose veins develop when you have circulation problems. They usually appear on your legs because blood is more likely to pool there. The blood pools result from faulty valves in your veins (chronic venous insufficiency).

The valves should stop blood from going back down the legs when it’s supposed to travel to your heart. But if they’re faulty, trickles of blood escape and collect in the veins. This is what forms varicose veins.

Untreated varicose veins can lead to tissue breakdown and problems like venous ulcers.

Sclerotherapy is an in-office treatment at Central Utah Dermatology. Your provider uses tiny needles to inject the sclerosant into the target veins.

The procedure might cause brief stinging sensations. If you’re worried about any discomfort or don’t like needles, your provider can use a numbing cream on your skin before the injection.

Your provider uses ultrasound guidance for some veins. This technology provides a view of the needle entering the vein to ensure they deliver the injection in precisely the right place. After a sclerotherapy session, you can continue with your day as usual. However, avoiding vigorous activities for about a week is a good idea.

Some patients benefit from wearing bandages for a couple of days, then compression stockings for two weeks. The pressure from the stockings supports your leg veins while the area heals.

To find out how sclerotherapy can rid you of problem veins, call the nearest Central Utah Dermatology office or book a visit online today.