Spider Veins
Spider veins by definition are also medically referred to as Telangiectasias are small dilated blood vessel near the surface of the skin, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These small superficial blood vessels can appear red, blue or even purple in the skin. Spider veins most commonly occur on the legs, but are also found on the face or other areas of the body.
These dilated blood vessels may be short, burst like patterns, about the with of a hair form “sunburst” like patterns. Spider veins may look like a spider web or a tree with branches. Every body is different and depending on your lifestyle, health issues and physical appearance, spider veins will look different on everyone. Some patients may have light, small patches, while others can have darker, more severe spidering covering an entire leg.
If left untreated, spider veins can lead to larger dilated blood vessels called varicose veins which are more raised and ropy often lying closer to the skin surface.
Spider veins while not preventable, are easily treatable, most effectively by sclerotherapy injections. There is about a 90 percent chance for a greatly improved appearance.
What Causes Spider Veins?
The cause of spider veins can be due to several reasons. Most commonly; Heredity, Gender, Pregnancy, Age and Lifestyle/Occupations all have an effect on the severity of a vascular issue such as spider veins.
Spider veins appear in both men and women, but more frequently in women. Female hormones may play a role in their development. Hormone replacement, birth control, pregnancy, or hormone replacement therapy highly contribute to them.
Facial Spider veins (rosacea) on the nose or the cheeks of fair-skinned people are very delicate, may be related to sun exposure and are treated differently than leg veins.
Can spider veins be prevented?
Spider veins cannot be prevented there are several things you can do to help minimize spider veins and also speed up recovery after treatment.
- Wearing support hose may minimize unwanted blood vessels from developing.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Exercising regularly, especially cardio based workouts to promote healthy circulation.
- Wearing low-heeled shoes.
Best Treatment Options for Spider Veins
The best course of treatment for spider veins in the leg is a 20 minute in-office procedure involving a series of injections into the targeted vein called sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy works by injecting a small amount of medication into the damaged vein. This sclerosing agent, will create a minor inflammatory reaction inside the vein causing it to collapse.
The first step to getting rid of Spider Veins
The first step to elevating the pain and embarrassment of spider veins is a FREE Vein Consultation at Circulatory Centers. Your free vein consultation will include a thorough discussion and preliminary exam to determine the best course of treatment which best suits your specific needs. We will also contact your health insurance carrier to determine your available coverage. Call to schedule your free vein consultation at 1-800-526-3082 or fill out our contact form page.