THREAD veins and broken veins are fine visible veins lying beneath the surface of the skin, most noticeable on the face.

Sunlight, exposure to wind, hormonal changes and the contraceptive pill can cause thread veins – which generally become more pronounced with age.

The light produced by the laser passes through the skin and is selectively absorbed by haemoglobin, the pigment contained within blood.

This generates heat, resulting in closure of the vessel and therefore disappearance of the broken vein.

Laser treatmentis carried out at the West of England Laser Centre, situated at Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital, by an NHS consultant surgeon, who is trained in the use of lasers and who also has considerable knowledge of the facial anatomy – significant factors in the successful management of skin problems in this highly sensitive region.

For an information pack and/or a personal consultation on this and other forms of treatment at the West of England Laser Centre, (such as removal of moles, age/sun spots,tattoos, excess hair, baggy eye lids and injection treatments for fine lines and wrinkles or lip volumisation) visit www.welc.co.uk or call 01823- 331773.