Using silicone gel sheet for the treatment of facial telangiectasias with sclerotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Telangiectasias are superficial cutaneous vessels that are visible to human eye and are present as a dilated venule, capillary, or arteriole. They are a common cause of concern, especially when located in face. Sclerotherapy is among the treatment alternatives, but facial telangiectasias are less responsive than those located on the leg.


OBJECTIVE
To show the effectiveness of silicone gel sheet in improving the results obtained by sclerotherapy in facial telangiectasias.


METHODS
Between 1998 and 2003, 32 patients were treated with sclerotherapy and silicone gel sheet (group 1). Twenty-six patients were treated with sclerotherapy and cotton ball (group 2), and 30 patients were treated only sclerotherapy (group 3). Patients were evaluated for 12 weeks for the degree of improvement and side effects. All complications, side effects, and number of sessions were also recorded at each follow-up visit. The number of sessions is limited to six. After the final follow-up visit, the photographs taken of each treatment site at baseline and at final visit were reviewed in a double-blinded manner based on a 0 to 4 scale by two physicians.


RESULTS
Fifty one of the 88 patients showed improvement totally. In the silicone sheet-sclerotherapy group, 22 of the 36 patients showed improvement. In the sclerotherapy-cotton ball group, 14 of the 26 patients showed improvement, and in the sclerotherapy-only group, 15 of the 30 patients showed improvement completely within the 12 weeks. The patients treated with sclerotherapy-silicone gel sheet (group 1) had more improvement than the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining silicone gel sheeting to sclerotherapy increases the success rate in treating facial telangiectasias, especially facial subunits, which have bone support.
Misirlioglu
Aykut
A
Dr Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. aykmis@hotmail.com
Gideroglu
Kaan
K
Akan
Mithat
M
Akoz
Tayfun
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*
D020034:Silicone Gels