Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Common Questions About Spider Veins

About Spider VeinsWhen it comes to spider veins, a lot of people actually think they are the same exact thing as varicose veins, but that’s not actually the truth.  Varicose veins tend to be worse – they are the ones that are reddish green, sometimes blue in color, and they tend to bulge more than spider veins.  But, that doesn’t mean that people with spider veins are any less embarrassed by this condition.  Spider veins can still be a worrisome situation to go through, even though these little vessels are smaller in size, and usually not as bold in color as varicose veins, they can still cause issues.  If you have some questions about spider veins, please continue to read the blog below, for more information about this condition such as Spider vein treatment in New Jersey, side effects of Sclerotherapy, different alternative options besides Sclerotherapy, and more.

 

Are Spider Veins Purely Cosmetic?

Spider veins, which are also more commonly known as telangiectasia are not always as cosmetic as people seem to think.  Sometimes they are the sign of something more serious going on inside the veins such as venous reflex disease.  Most of the smaller varicose veins, called spider veins, have a sunburst or spider web look to them.  However, if the patient is having any pain, soreness, itching, etc. it may be a sign of venous reflex disease.  If this is the case, then the patient will need treatment, not only for the spider veins themselves, but for the disease.  One of the most common forms of Spider vein treatment is called Sclerotherapy.  This is a treatment in which topical lasers are used on the skin to help essentially destroy the spider veins.

 

Spider Vein Treatment

One of the more common treatments, is the one we spoke about briefly above; Sclerotherapy.  This usually works for 90% of the people that get it.  However, if you can’t afford Sclerotherapy or its not working for you, there ARE a few other options available to you, all of these treatments are bound to have different amount of treatments needed – this depends on the veins themselves, as well as the person.  Each treatment will also most likely experience a few side effects, some worse than others.  Let’s first go over the Sclerotherapy treatment though:

 

Sclerotherapy

On average, people that get Sclerotherapy treatments, are usually going to have to get 3-4 treatments, but in some rare cases it only takes 1 treatment and in some really rare cases it takes up to 6 treatments altogether.  Common side effects for Sclerotherapy include itching, pain which is temporary and tends to only last 1-7 days, sloughing which only occurs in 3% of patients, and in rare cases an allergic reaction may be present.

 

Laser Surgery

This is a lot like Sclerotherapy because it uses lasers to get rid of the veins.  In this case, however, instead of destroying the veins altogether like with Sclerotherapy, this simply makes the color and shape of the vein smaller and changes the color from brighter to less bright.  No needles are used in this treatment either.

 

Microsclerotherapy

This is somewhat similar to the above two, but in this case, needles are present.  A Small amount of a chemical compound which is liquefied is inserted into the veins with a very slim needle.  Essentially the chemical inside the vein creates a scar on the inner lining of the veins and it closes it off.

 

Endovenous Ablation Therapy

This Spider vein treatment uses lasers, incisions and needles, it’s somewhat a tough treatment to go through, but you will be numbed around the area of the veins.  The doctor will take a laser and close off the area of the vein using heat.  Then, he or she will make a small cut near the vein and insert a catheter tube into the vein itself.  The device will heat up and close off the veins.

If you want to try and keep spider veins at bay, it’s a good idea to:

– Try not to stand on your feet too long, without sitting down every few minutes.

– When sleeping, try to keep your legs and feet at a raised position – above your heart when possible.

– If you are obese, try to lose some of the weight you have put on.  Losing weight will improve the blood flow and won’t put so much pressure on your legs.

– Try not to wear high heels or tight clothes as much as usual.  Tight clothes, tight boots and high heels can create spider veins or if you already have them, it can make them even worse than they already are.

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