Understanding and Treating Venous Lakes
Table of Contents
What is a venous lake?
Venous lakes are blood vessel malformations on the lips. These areas are not concerning but can look similar to other lesions such as a labial melanotic melanoma. Venous lake is a common benign vascular tumor that is usually asymptomatic and mostly seen in the elderly. Venous lake lesions are soft and compressible, and most patients want them removed due to cosmetics. There isn’t necessarily one specific reason that a venous lake will develop, but it is very common.
How are venous lake lesions treated?
There are older methods to remove these lesions, but dermatologists most commonly will address them. There aren’t many dentists that offer treatment, but the ones that do tend to see many patients for this procedure. The dentist must have a specific laser that targets blood, which is called an Nd:YAG laser. This type of laser is commonly used in dentistry for other reasons, but it works very well in the treatment of a venous lake lesion. If you are seeking removal of a venous lake, ask your dentist if they have an Nd:YAG laser.
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Additional Information and Statistics
Here's what you need to know about venous lakes:
- Venous lakes are benign (non-cancerous) vascular lesions caused by dilated blood vessels.
- Commonly found on the lips, ears, face, and neck.
- More prevalent in women than men.
- Often seen in people over 50 years old.
- Generally painless and harmless but can sometimes appear unsightly.
Various treatment methods include:
- Sclerotherapy: Injecting a sclerosing agent into the lesion causing the blood vessels to collapse.
- Laser therapy: A procedure that destroys the blood vessels with lasers.
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the lesion using liquid nitrogen.
- Electrocautery: Utilizing heat to obliterate the blood vessels.
Some vital statistics about venous lakes:
- A study of over 1,000 people found venous lakes in 10% of the participants.
- The average age of those with venous lakes was 65 years.
- More common in women with a 2:1 ratio against men.
- Most frequently found on the lips (60%), followed by the ears (20%), face (15%), and neck (5%).
- Usually painless, but can sometimes be itchy or tender.
- In rare instances, venous lakes can become infected.
Dr. Thomas is a general dentist that loves sharing information about all aspects of dentistry, but is passionate about digital and implant dentistry. Dr. Thomas received his DMD degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and continues to find helpful ways to inform and educate people about dental procedures and products.
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