What are spider and varicose veins?
Veins are the vessels that return blood to the heart once it has circulated through the body (as opposed to arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body). They have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If these valves stop functioning the way they are supposed to, blood can flow backwards and pool in the vein, causing it to stretch. These enlarged blood vessels are classified into two groups: spider veins and varicose veins.
Spider veins are visible red or blue blood vessels that may spread like a web across the skin anywhere on the body, most commonly on the face and legs. Varicose veins are blood vessels with weak walls that swell or balloon outward, raising the skin surface.
Are spider and varicose veins common?
Yes. More than 80 million people in the United States have problems with their veins, including about 50 percent of women.
What causes spider and varicose veins?
It is not entirely known what causes spider and varicose veins, although many likely factors have been identified. The most significant contributing factor is heredity. Others include:
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Birth control pills
- Estrogen and progesterone
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- Aging
- Occupations that involve standing
- Obesity
- Leg Injury
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Can they be harmful?
Yes. Abnormal veins in the legs can cause pain (including fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping and restlessness) and prevent proper skin nutrition, leading to eczema, inflammation and ulceration.
I don’t see any red or purple vessels and I don’t have any bumps. Could I still have a venous disorder?
Yes. Physical examination, often with the aid of specialized equipment such as non-invasive ultrasound, by a professional can detect problems with blood vessels that aren’t visible otherwise.
Who Benefits from treatment of varicose veins?
The Young Man or Woman who inherited the condition in one or both legs. The symptoms are progressing rapidly and who is now beginning to feel frequent discomfort in the leg(s) and who is also so embarrassed to the point that he or she now tries to hide the veins.
The Young Woman whose legs were nearly perfect until she had her first pregnancy. Now, after multiple deliveries, has developed advanced varicose veins or at least significantly symptomatic veins that she is uncomfortable almost daily. She is afraid to go to the pool with her children.
The Rugged Man who is not going to let some little or large varicose veins bother him, until he realized that this is a truly medical condition. Not only will he develop aching sensation in the legs and a constant uncomfortable feeling. But, eventually, discoloration and even ulceration can develop in the later stages. The earlier he seeks treatment the better the results.
The Mature Man and Woman who dedicated their lives to work and family now find themselves with advanced varicose veins and symptoms. It is time that they have their venous system evaluated and treated. There is no better time than the present to act.
If you are the unlucky one that has developed Severe skin changes or worse, Ulcerations and Severe pain, from long standing venous insufficiency, don't delay any longer. Treatment will be difficult but possible.
What is sclerotherapy?
Treatments involve one or more injections during one or more sessions, depending on the type, number and severity of the veins being treated. By the end of the treatment program, the veins are no longer visible on the skin surface. Sclerotherapy usually also relieves symptoms associated with enlarged veins and prevents further complications from occurring.
How is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy different?
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy allows doctors to treat problematic veins that aren’t visible on the skin surface by monitoring veins on an ultrasound screen during the procedure.
Are there alternative treatments?
Yes. These include microphlebectomy and TriVex.
Microphlebectomy removes varicose veins with a special hook is used through multiple tiny incisions that do not usually require stitches and leave minimal scarring. Recent advances have made it possible to perform the procedure using only local anesthesia and light sedation in a doctor’s office as an outpatient. After the microphlebectomy you will be asked to wear compression garments temporarily. The incisions typically heal within two weeks.
TriVex employs a powerful light that targets only the damaged vein, which is then precisely removed with a powered resector under local anesthesia. The treated area is then flushed clean through a process called tumescent infiltration. Advantages of TriVex over other vein removal methods are faster procedure and recovery time, and less scarring.
Can I do anything to prevent the development of spider and varicose veins, or to reduce their side effects?
Yes. Spider and varicose vein formation and complications may be prevented by wearing sunscreen on the face, exercising regularly, controlling your weight, elevating legs when resting, not crossing the legs when sitting, avoiding long periods of standing, wearing elastic support stockings, and eating high-fiber foods.
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