Hyperpigmentation from Veinwave Treatment

Question

I had Veinwave treatment for spider veins, which left me with awful hyperpigmentation marks that look worse than the thread veins. Although the doctor told me they would fade away in a few months, it's been over a year now, and I still have them. I've tried the fadeout cream (religiously for 4 months) but it hasn't made the slightest difference. Is there any kind of treatment that would rid me of these very unsightly marks?

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, even with all of our advances in treating spider veins, there is always a risk of hyperpigmentation or hemosiderin staining after any of the treatment modalities (veinwave, laser, sclero (regardless of solution)) Time is truly the best tincture. It may take many months or even years but the pigmentation resulting from treatment does generally fade. Sometimes tretinoin helps speed the process, but it can be irritating and sun sensitizing. Good luck.

Hugo Pin, MD · Answer

This is extremely rare, I use Ohmic every day and never had this sort of side effect. Maybe the feeding veins have not be completely occluded below the skin.
I think time is your only chance. some lasers seem to be effective, like the ones used for tatoo removal.

Timothy Mountcastle, MD · Answer

hyperpigmentation from veinwave rarely occurs but if it does give it a tincture of time and tretinoin can help too. may take 1-2 years to fade.

Craig Crippen, MD · Answer

the best way to get rid of that hyperpigmentation is just time.  there are some creams that may be of use but there is no clinically proven way to lighten the hemosiderin that has deposited into your skin.

	we sometimes use lasers for lightening but the results are not always predictable.

	Cheers

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

As well as your experience with VeinWave, sclerosing solutions used to obliterate spider veins and reticular veins can cause pigment deposition in the skin. How often does this occur? It has been observed in up to 1/3 of patients when hypertonic saline is used as the sclerosing solution, in 7 to 31 % of patients when polidochanol is used, and in 10% to 80% of patients treated with STS solution (sodium tetradecyl sulfate).

The good news is that pigmentation is usually temporary and rarely persists beyond 1 year. Be patient.

I recommend that my patients alternate the use of 2 topical products to reduce excessive pigmentation : Sclerovase and Scleroquin plus - they are available on the website below - they reduce the pigmentation associated with retained hemosiderin after successful sclerotherapy or topical laser treatment of spider veins.Scler-X is also recommended. It is an anti-inflmmatory hyperpigmentation relief complex from VenaSmart.

Bryan K. Chen, MD · Answer

A topical retinoid such as retin-a or adapalene may help with the pigmentation.  I would advise mixing the retin-a with a bland moisturizer first, as applying retin-a directly can irritate the skin.  Retin-a does require a prescription.  Over-the-counter products, however containing retinol or retinaldehyde are alternatives.  I would also bring this issue to the attention of the individual who performed your veinwave treatment.
Good luck!

Hyperpigmentation from Veinwave Treatment

Answers (6)