Virginia Beach Vein Treatment doctors

  There are two studies I am aware of showing that Vitamin K cream may help with post-traumatic bruising. In both studies a cream containing Vitamin K  was used after pulsed dye laser treatment. As anybody who has underwent treatment with this particular laser, say to rid themselves of unsightly facial blood vessels, knows purpura ( bruising) can be an unwanted side effect. In these studies one by Cohen et al and published in the November 2009  issue of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, and the other by Lou et al in the December 1999 issue of Dermatologic Surgery, Vitamin K containing creams hastened the resolution of this laser-induced bruising. There are some problems in both studies in that there were other ingredients in the formulations which might have spurred on the body's response ( such as Vitamin C and E) in the former study and Retinol in the latter.  Further, the number  patients in the studies were small and the latter study was funded by the company manufacturing the Vitamin K cream. Nonetheless, most likely, Vitamin K cream does seem to be a worthwhile product for trauma induced bruising.

  However, I could not find scientific evidence that Vitamin K cream helps with telangiectasias ( the tiny broken capillaries you mention). Sure, this is mentioned in so-called homeopathic articles, and companies hawking Vitamin K products,  but I was not able to find scientific evidence of such.  Perhaps it exists, but I could not find this. Claims that Vitamin C would help in this regard would hold much more water in my estimation since Vitamin C helps produce collagen and collagen can help hold the small vessels in place. 

  For these vessels which seem to concern you,  certainly the pulsed dye laser mentioned above, the KTP laser, electrodessication and IPL would all work much better and quicker than applying a cream. 

  I can see no value of applying a Vitamin K cream for "blood blisters". Try moleskin to prevent them next time.

The long awaited FDA approval for Asclero (Polidocanol) finally  was effectuated  March 30 this year. It seems to me that there have been rumors that this sclerosing agent would be approved for the last thirty years. Sure  Polidocanol  has been used in a number of countries, especially Europe, for years, but technically it was illegal to use in the United States, Unlike many drugs which are used off label, polidocanol had  no FDA indication, and therefore was regarded by governmental eyes as being illegal. Still, due to its effectiveness, some physicians have been using this regularly by "smuggling" it into the country from Germany or France. 

   The reason these physicians were taking this risk is that, most feel, it is the best sclerosing agent around,. It was originally developed as an anesthetic. Thus, unlike other agents such as hypertonic saline, there is little, if any burning or pain. Another advantage is that it is much more forgiving than saline. If the spider vein is missed, no worry. Unlike saline, which risks an ulcer, there is minimal tissue necrosis ( tissue death) around the site. 

   The allergic potential is quite a bit lower than Sodium tetradecyl sulfate ( Sotradecol), an agent which has been FDA approved for years. However, there still exists the potential for anaphylaxis, and subsequent death. A number of years ago, a patient consulted me and transcribed polidocanol in her allergy list. When queried, she related how she almost died from injections of polidocanol for spider veins. So, though very rare, this untoward event can happen

   Nonetheless, this is a very effective and ultimately safe agent. 

    As with all sclerosing agents, it acts by damaging the vessel wall. This injury causes the vessel to close and become fibrotic. The body subsequently eliminates the tissue. Asclero will be most effective for spider veins ( the little purple veins) and the larger reticular veins (reddish-blue). 

If the nd:YAG laser does not seem to be working you might ask the dermatologist to use a pulsed dye laser. If he does not own one, then a referral to a colleague to use another laser would be in order. The KTP and 910 diode laser are also good choices.

Finally, electro-dessication, in the right hands, can be quite effective and is much less expensive.