Treatment of facial telangiectasia with sclerotherapy, laser surgery, and/or electrodesiccation: a review

BACKGROUND. Facial telangiectasia is extremely common in patients with fair complexion. Electrosurgery has been the primary form of treatment in the past. OBJECTIVES. The authors retrospectively evaluated over 300 patients treated with sclerotherapy for facial telangiectasias. METHODS. Retrospective analysis of over 300 patients with facial telangiectasia treated with sclerotherapy and 55 facial spider telangiectasias treated with laser. RESULTS. Sclerotherapy utilizing hypertonic saline, Sclerodex, polidocanol, and sodium tetradecyl sulfate resulted in-between 50 and 100% resolution of facial telangiectasia with minimal complications. CONCLUSION. The treatment of facial telangiectasia should include sclerotherapy and laser treatment modalities, which effect a higher rate of clearance with less adverse sequela. LEARNING OBJECTIVES. After studying the following article the participants should be able to: 1 Understand the classification of superficial cutaneous facial vessels and identify their morphology. 2 Show an awaremenss of the benefits and risks of utilizing microsclerotherapy as a treatment for certain facial telangiectasias. 3 Recognize the role of laser surgery and electrosurgery as primary or secondary techniques in treating facial telangiectasias.