Spider veins are visible networks of veins that often appear on the thighs, behind the knees or along the calves. They can also appear on the arms or even on the face around the nose and cheeks. These red, blue or purple lines may form a pattern similar to a spider’s web. Because the networks can grow rather large, spider veins can become a fairly significant cosmetic problem. Do the problems associated with spider veins also extend beyond their aesthetic concerns?
What Causes Spider Veins?
There are a number of factors that can go into the formation of spider veins. Some of those include:
- Heredity
- Sun exposure
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Some medical conditions
- Some types of medications
- Trauma to the skin
When spider veins appear on the legs, particularly the lower legs, another cause may also be involved. A venous condition known as venous reflux occurs when there is damage to the vessels that prevents blood from flowing through them as efficiently. This can lead to blood refluxing back into the vessel, which leads to weakening and swelling over time. If the condition is left unchecked, spider or varicose veins can appear.
Dangers of Venous Reflux
When spider veins are caused by venous reflux, the underlying condition can worsen over time. As blood continues to pool inside the vessels, you may notice your legs feel tired or achy by the end of the day. Some spider vein sufferers also experience leg cramps or restless legs, particularly at night when they try to go to sleep. The increased pressure inside the vessel can also create problems on the skin, such as itching or burning around the area of the spider veins.
Spider veins can also become a greater cosmetic concern as the networks may enlarge and become more noticeable. Whether you are experiencing physical symptoms with your spider veins or simply feel uncomfortable with their appearance, there are options for treating these veins relatively quickly and painlessly today.
Spider Vein Treatment Options
At The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin, we offer a number of minimally-invasive treatments that allow us to customize your treatment to your specific condition. Sclerotherapy, an injectable procedure that treats spider veins from the inside out, continues to be a top choice in spider vein treatment for many of our patients. This procedure uses a fine needle to inject a special solution directly into the visible vein, which causes the vessel to seal closed. The vein is reabsorbed by the body, while blood is rerouted to healthy veins nearby.
Sclerotherapy takes just a few minutes to complete in most cases and does not require any type of anesthesia. Patients may experience a mild burning sensation as the solution goes into the vein, but this only lasts for a minute or two. After treatment, you will be able to return to your regular activities right away, without any telltale signs you just had a vein treatment done.
The results of sclerotherapy will continue to improve in the days and weeks following your procedure. Some patients will need more than one sclerotherapy session to achieve full results. However, once those results are obtained, they should be permanent since the vein is destroyed completely. If additional spider veins develop, they can also be treated with additional sclerotherapy injections.
If you are dealing with embarrassing, painful spider veins, don’t suffer any longer. Contact The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin today at 800-910-8346 to find out which vein treatment is the right one for you.