Spider veins are thin veins that appear close to the surface of the skin, most noticeable by their resemblance of spider legs. They are superficial and usually appear on the leg, but are often a plague that many of us end up dealing with as we get a bit older. If you can’t stand the sight of them anymore, you may be looking into the various types of spider vein removal.
Before we discuss the types of treatment that are available, you might be interested in learning what causes spider veins to develop. Several factors can contribute to the development of spider veins, such as pregnancy, hormonal changes, hereditary, weight gain, and other activities which require a great deal of standing or sitting. You should be aware that these factors could cause more spider veins to pop up even after you treat your existing occurrence.
The severity of your case of spider veins can play a big part in how easy they are to lighten or remove. Sclerotherapy is the most common form of treating this condition and is an in-office procedure that can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on how many veins need to be treated. This particular procedure consists of elevating the leg to drain the blood, and then a solution is injected into the veins. The solution contains a chemical called sclerosant, which causes the veins to collapse and fade away. Some patients feel a burning sensation or cramping for a few minutes, which can be quite uncomfortable. While one treatment will produce a significant difference in the visibility of the veins, additional treatments may be required to achieve a more perfected look.
Another popular option is laser treatment. In this procedure, a laser is used to shoot bursts of light directly at the veins, causing them to permanently disappear. Lasers are extremely precise and tend to work better on patients who have smaller spider veins where a needle cannot be injected. Although this treatment may cause bruising for a few weeks afterward, laser treatment offers very precise and permanent results. Be warned, however, that those of you working on a budget may be surprised at how costly this treatment can be in comparison to sclerotherapy.
Preventing spider veins from appearing is not always possible; however there are a few things that may help to prevent the occurrence, such as: exercising regularly, wearing supportive hose/stockings, avoiding high-heeled shoes, eating plenty of fiber.
Before committing to any kind of treatment, you should speak with your doctor to determine whether you are a good candidate for treatment and what positive and negative effects could result.
