Spider veins are small clusters of veins that can be blue, red or purple in color. They appear on the skin, commonly on the face, thighs, ankles and calves. They are more visible and closer to the skin than varicose veins. They are more common in women than men. Most women will get spider veins when they are older but they can also be noticeable at a young age.
Causes
There are many things that can cause the occurrence of these veins. Some of the causes include:
– Heredity.
– Hormonal shifts that change the level of estrogen in the body.
– Frequent and prolonged sitting or standing.
Although these problem veins may not be harmful, they may represent a first symptom of venous insufficiency, so you should consult a doctor, specialist in vein disorders who can diagnose this condition on the early stages. Late symptoms of venous insufficiency include bleeding, pain, color changes, rashes or ulcers on the skin.
Spider Vein Removal
Before removal (treatment) of spider veins, diagnostic tests will be carried out in order to check for blood clots and direction of the blood flow. This is usually done with an ultrasound (venous duplex) examination. A physical exam is also carried out at the same time. Both – a physical exam and an ultrasound are usually performed while you are standing.
Some of the spider vein treatments include:
1. Laser Treatment (YAG laser)
During this treatment bursts of light are delivered to the problem veins and this makes them gradually disappear. However, this method may not be effective for larger veins. The side effects of this treatment method include itching, redness, swelling, bruising and a permanent skin tone.
2. sclerotherapy
In this procedure, a solution is injected in the veins, which will scar the veins and close them down. Hence, blood will be redirected to healthier veins. The injection can be administered more than once in order for the treatment to be effective. The injections are normally given while the patient is lying down. Afterwards, compression stockings are put on immediately. No anesthesia is required, since sclerotherapy is not painful. The side effects of this treatment although very rare, may include lumps, bruising, matting, swelling, inflammation and brown lines or spots. Some of the things that you can do to minimize some of the side effects include wearing compression stockings and walking in order to improve circulation.
Follow-up is required after a few weeks in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. Although these treatments are effective, these spider veins may
We, at Canada Veins Clinics, use a Vein Light technology and perform this procedure very effectively in our Toronto vein clinics.
