Spider Vein Treatment: What You Should Know

spider-veins-picture-description-causes-treatments-nyc-05Do you need spider vein treatment? Perhaps you want to get rid of the spider veins that have appeared on your legs. The small bluish-purple vessels, i.e., the spider veins, on your legs not only affect your appearance but may also cause discomfort.

Spider veins are faulty veins smaller in size as compared to varicose veins. They may look blue, purple, or red. Spider veins are visible through the skin and may appear as thin webs or lines. For this reason, spider veins are also referred to as thread veins.

Symptoms

Both the spider veins and varicose veins may be forms of a venous disorder or venous insufficiency. Both conditions are likely to affect your leg veins more than the other veins in the body. Varicose veins are due to damaged valves in your large veins. Resulting in an increase venous pressure which may cause spider veins.

Other than their appearance, spider veins may cause slight discomfort, but not pain or heaviness in the legs.

Causes

Spider Veins on Legs

spider-vein-treatment-before-after-photos-pics-01Faulty veins are the main culprit for both varicose and spider veins. When the valves inside your veins stop working normally, spider veins can occur on superficial capillaries due to increased venous pressure. Veins are responsible for returning blood to the heart.

When the blood passes through a vein, the one-way valve inside the veins closes. The valve helps prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction.

However, when this valve gets damaged, it becomes harder for the blood to flow in an upward direction. Thus, veins start collecting blood and over time, this can result in a venous bulge under the skin, varicose veins, and an increase in venous pressure resulting spider veins.

Spider veins, many times may occur without varicose veins as a result of hormones or congenital factors.

Spider Veins on the Face

spider-veins-face-treatment-before-after-treatment-02The sun’s ultraviolet rays damage blood vessels. When the tiny blood vessels running through your face burst, it may result in spider veins. Increased pressure on the face, such as due to vomiting, coughing, or sneezing, may also cause spider veins.

Causes that make you more susceptible to spider veins:

  • Your gender –women are more likely to have spider veins than men
  • The hormonal impact of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
  • Also, the use of birth control pills or hormonal menopause treatments which weaken the vein
  • Advancing age causes the vein valves and skin to lose elasticity and get weaker
  • Damaged veins from previous blood clots can also affect the working of vein valve
  • Standing or sitting for a prolonged period makes the veins work harder to pump blood
  • 90% of people inherit spider veins from their family

Spider Vein Treatment

While spider veins are painless, you may wish to have them removed for cosmetic reasons.

Sclerotherapy

sclerotherapy-spider-vein-treatment-doctor-04Sclerotherapy is the most effective treatment for spider veins for the legs and face. It does not require anesthesia and can be performed in the surgeon’s office. During the procedure, the surgeon injects an irritant into the affected vein.

Sclerotherapy irritates the walls of the veins, causing them to stick together and eventually shrink and disappear.

For the best results, you may need several treatments. Your doctor may recommend wearing compression stockings for a few days after treatment. Spider veins will gradually disappear in 4 to 6 weeks.

Laser Treatment

You may visit a surgeon or dermatologist for laser treatment for your spider veins. During the process, the doctor directs the laser light at the spider veins to close them. Laser treatment is effective for for spider veins on the face smaller than 3 mm.

Usually laser treatment is not effective for spider veins on the legs, due to characteristics of the skin and the spider vein per se.

Laser Sclerotherapy

evlt-vein-ablation-spider-vein-treatment-03

Laser Sclerotherapy is a combination of Sclerotherapy followed by laser at the same time. This combination enhances the Sclerotherapy treatment for faster results.

Final Thoughts On Spider Vein Treatment & Causes

Spider veins are harmless, but you may want them removed from your legs or face for cosmetic reasons. Whether sclerotherapy, laser treatment, or a combination is needed for your treatment, The Vein Treatment Center can offer you all treatment modalities. 

Contact us today and book an appointment with the best vascular surgeon in NYC.

The Vein Treatment Center
327 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065

212-249-6117

office@veintreatmentcenter.com

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