Spider veins can be signs of underlying venous diseases affecting your vascular health. Visiting a vein clinic will help you understand how these veins occur and the treatment methods available for removing them. Here is more information about spider veins and how they are treated:
What Are Spider Veins?
Appearing just beneath the skin’s surface, spider veins are small and may be shades of blue or purple. Their thin lines mimic the appearance of spider webs. Some spider veins cause discomfort, irritation, or a burning sensation, affecting the skin on the leg, chest, face, or hands.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins occur due to poor or damaged valves inside the feeder veins. The defective valves cause blood to flow backward rather than toward the heart. The backed-up blood expands the tiny capillaries beneath the skin’s surface, resulting in spider veins. Spider veins can form at any age and have a genetic component. Factors such as pregnancy and prolonged periods of standing can also contribute to the formation of new spider veins or exacerbate existing ones.
How Are Spider Veins Treated?
Visiting a vein clinic offers various methods for treating spider veins, including sclerotherapy and laser treatment. Sclerotherapy involves your healthcare provider giving you a series of microinjections containing a sclerosing agent. This chemical solution enters the spider veins and closes them off. The treated veins shrink over time, and your body absorbs the treated cells. Blood flow naturally diverts into healthy veins, increasing circulation and removing the underlying cause of your spider veins. Specialists may use real-time imaging technology, such as an ultrasound, to find the targeted vein when performing sclerotherapy injections.
Laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses concentrated light energy to collapse and fade spider veins for clear and even-toned skin. The laser sends out photons that are absorbed by the blood cells in the veins, resulting in heat that kills the blood vessel. The spider veins shrink and disappear over time. Laser therapy can be a good treatment option for easily seen spider veins on the face or hands. Your healthcare provider may offer protective eyewear to shield your eyes from the laser light during the therapy.
How To Prevent Spider Veins?
Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce pressure on your veins. Avoiding tight clothes and not sitting or standing for extensive periods can also minimize the development of spider veins. Your healthcare may also recommend wearing compression stockings to assist with blood flow in your legs.
Visit a Vein Clinic
Removing spider veins can enhance overall comfort and the aesthetic appearance of the skin. If the veins are located in visible areas like the legs or face, treatment can lead to a clearer, more even-toned appearance. Venous specialists, such as vascular surgeons or dermatologists, can perform spider vein removal procedures. These specialists will guide you on the appropriate treatment methods that can help improve your vascular health. Contact a reputable vein clinic today to schedule an appointment and remove your spider veins.
