Would retinol cream reduce the appearance of spider veins on the nose?

Question

I have heard that retinol cream can reduce the appearance of spider veins. Would a retinol cream reduce the appearance of spider veins on the nose? If so, what would be the best cream? Thank you so much for any answers.

Brian Biggerstaff, MD · Answer

smayar, thank you for sharing your question. A picture would be helpful, but here are some general thoughts... tretinoin does not directly treat spider veins, however after several months of use it does cause thickening of the dermis and epidermis, which incidentally may help mask the spider veins or make them less visible. A better/more directed treatment for spider veins (especially for the face) would be laser treatments (ie Nd:Yag laser). Another option would be sclerotherapy. Finally, if your visible blood vessels are associated with rosacea than you would benefit from treatment of your rosacea as well. I recommend you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon that does skin care or a board certified dermatologist to consult with.Hope this is helpful. All the best, Brain

Amy Y. Paul, DO, FAAD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  I would not think retin-a or any of it's derivatives would specifically help with small veins on the face.  On the contrary, they may make your face more red if the cream is used too often and if you experience peeling or dryness while getting used to the products.  For specifically treating tiny telangiectases on the face ( small visible veins) and general redness, ask your dermatologist about IPL, or a vascular laser such as Long Pulsed Nd: Yag, or treatment with a Pulsed Dye Laser.  Creams in the retinoid family are not known for the ability to reduce the appearance of veins and broken capillaries on the face.  Good luck!

Would retinol cream reduce the appearance of spider veins on the nose?

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Would retinol cream reduce the appearance of spider veins on the nose?

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