Spring is in full bloom, and summer is just around the corner! It’s time to get outside, soak up the sun, and all the fantastic outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer! But for some of you, there’s a catch. This year you’ve noticed spider veins on your legs, and you’re not quite ready to peel off the snow pants and throw on the hiking shorts. We know that spider veins can be unsightly and embarrassing, but even worse, 80% of the time, spider veins also cause pain, fatigue, ulceration around the ankles, restless leg syndrome, itching, and other symptoms.
If you have spider veins, you are not alone. You are one of the 30% of American women or 40% of American men who have them. Although many people see them as a cosmetic problem, spider veins can also be a sign of abnormal underlying veins. If you have spider veins, it’s a good idea to consult with a physician to rule out any underlying problems. And here’s some excellent news, you don’t have to live with spider veins. You can have them removed!
But before we jump into the best options on how to get rid of spider veins, let’s take a quick look at what causes them.
Spider Veins: The Causes
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are thin blood vessels visible beneath the skin. Although they are usually found on the face and legs, they can also occur on the chest or hands. Feeder veins with unhealthy valves cause spider veins. Because the valves don’t work properly, blood flows backward instead of upwards toward the heart. This backed-up blood forms pools and can lead to non-functional, “dead-end” veins that look like spider webs.
The Most Common Causes of Spider Veins
There are a number of different factors that can cause sider veins. Here are just a few:
- Genetic predisposition: Almost 50% of varicose vein patients have a family history of spider veins. If both parents have spider veins, your chances of developing them are close to 90%.
- Radiation therapy or sun damage: Ultraviolet rays damage your body at a cellular level, which means the fibers of your skin are affected. Because of this, the skin starts to show signs of premature aging, which causes blood vessels to weaken and dilate.
- Sitting or standing for long periods: Increased pressure in the vein can lead to damage.
- Pregnancy: The increase in blood moving through the body, combined with the extra weight of the fetus, places additional pressure on leg veins. Sometimes spider veins disappear after pregnancy, but they can also be permanent.
- Aging: Valves in veins naturally weaken over time. The calf muscles, which play an essential role in helping veins pump blood upward, can also weaken as a person ages.
- Obesity: Extra body weight places added pressure on leg veins.
- Hormonal treatments: Estrogen can weaken vein valves.
- Previous vein damage or a blood clot: Previous damage can destabilize valves and cause them to work improperly.
- Excessive pressure in the face: Forceful coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and even pushing during childbirth can cause spider veins in the face.
Treatment: How to Get Rid of Spider Veins
There’s more than one way to get rid of spider veins. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on Laser Therapy and Sclerotherapy.
Laser Therapy
We have found that laser therapy is the perfect solution for how to get rid of small spider veins. Laser therapy is a non-invasive technology that uses long-wavelength light energy to eliminate spider veins. The pulsing of the light energy causes blood in the vein to coagulate, which then destroys the vein. Once destroyed, the vein is absorbed by the body, and the blood is redirected through other veins. Laser therapy is an in-office treatment that is virtually painless and requires no injections. You’ll be thrilled with how well it works on the face as there is no bruising.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is also a quick, painless treatment that you can get right here in the Denver Vein office. This treatment eliminates unsightly veins, relieves the symptoms associated with spider veins, and will do it all without scarring. During the treatment, a solution is injected into the abnormal vein, which causes the vein to close off the blood flow. Once blood flow ceases, the vein collapses and is absorbed by the body.
The side effects of sclerotherapy are minimal and temporary. They include:
- Bruising
- Stinging
- Swelling at the injection site
- General discomfort
- Swollen feet or ankles
If you experience any of these side effects, you can expect them to resolve within a couple of weeks of your treatment session.
Although the treatment should not interfere with your normal activities, your doctor may recommend wearing compression socks or bandages for a couple of weeks to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. Walking regularly is also recommended to keep the blood flowing through the veins. Strenuous exercise, like running or heavy lifting, is not recommended as these types of activities put extra stress on the body, can slow the healing process, and increase the risk of blood clots.
Sclerotherapy can be combined with other treatments to produce the best results.
Denver Vein Is Here to Help You Get Rid of Spider Veins
If you are one of the more than 40 million people in the United States that suffer from spider veins, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Since 2005 Denver Vein has been specializing in vein removal. We understand your concerns and treat them with the respect that they deserve.
We know you want to get out in the beautiful weather as soon as possible, so we make getting rid of spider veins quick and easy. At Denver Vein we take care of all of your vein removal needs in one place. From diagnosis to treatment, we’ve got you covered in-house. We have found that this approach provides greater accuracy, less stress, and more one-on-one attention.
There’s no reason to suffer one more day with spider veins. Not only are they unsightly, but they can lead to other more severe conditions. Look and feel BETTER. Beautiful, healthy legs can yours! Contact us for an appointment today!