Taking care of your spider veins is much more than a cosmetic issue.
Spider veins are similar to varicose veins (the larger—and sometimes bulging—more visible veins). Getting the right treatment for both types of vein disease can be a life-changing decision.
Treating your vein condition will help you get rid of the unsightly appearance they cause and also help prevent or relieve other, more serious symptoms, including:
- leg cramps
- pain and swelling
- feeling of restlessness
- skin discoloration
Learn more about treating varicose veins
What are spider veins?
Spider veins is the informal name that some people give to a medical condition called telangiectasia.
Telangiectasia is a vein condition that happens when your smallest blood vessels gradually engorge and widen.
This process, known as venous reflux, is what causes fine thread-like marks on your body. These small lines often appear in groupings that create patterns on the skin of your legs or face, and they take on a web-like appearance (hence their nickname “spider veins”).
What causes spider veins?
Over four million Americans have varicose veins or spider veins, and women are more likely than men to suffer from the condition.
Many get spider veins as a normal result as a side effect of being overweight or sedentary. Some people develop spider veins because of hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy, and others have them because of aging or genes they’ve inherited from their parents.
No matter their cause, if you have any type of vein condition, like spider veins or varicose veins, these diseased veins shouldn’t be ignored since they can worsen, causing more severe health problems like blood clots if left untreated.
Once you notice any visible veins, it’s a good idea to see a professional for a thorough examination before you start to experience leg pain or other problems.
Treatment options for spider veins
While spider veins aren’t always painful, they can prevent you from feeling your most confident. But, the best news is that spider veins can be easily and effectively treated by the right professionals using the latest quick and noninvasive technologies.
In fact, depending on the severity of your spider veins, most procedures can be done quickly with minimal pain and start showing results within one- to two-weeks.
As a first step in diagnosis process, your doctor will do an ultrasound on your spider veins to get a clear picture of what’s happening in your body and develop an appropriate, customized plan for spider veins treatment that gets you back to feeling—and looking—your best.
Injections
For some patients, sclerotherapy could be a recommended solution for eliminating your diseased veins.
As part of this procedure, a doctor injects a solution directly into your spider veins, forcing the blood to reroute through healthier veins. Sclerotherapy typically causes bruising, and once it’s done you’ll need to wear compression socks for about a week while you’re healing.
Laser treatments
Some people opt for laser treatments as their method of diminishing the appearance of their spider veins. Laser treatments for spider veins can usually be done without harming the surrounding tissue.
Laser treatments are a popular alternative treatment option for diminishing the appearance of spider veins because they result in less downtime and feel less painful than surgical or injectable treatments.
If you’ve noticed any changes in the appearance of your veins or if they are causing you pain or making you self-conscious, the vein experts at Logansport Memorial Hospital can help.
Maintaining good blood circulation is dependent on having healthy veins, making it a good idea to seek professional treatment for spider veins early from an experienced and compassionate provider that you can trust.
If you are ready to explore treatment options to take care of your spider veins, make an appointment with a Logansport Memorial Hospital surgeon today.
The Vein Program at Logansport Memorial Hospital
Logansport Memorial Hospital’s program for treating veins is offered through our general surgery department, and our cutting-edge treatments are designed to restore your legs to not only feel better, but look better too.
Treatments are relatively painless and can be done in the surgery office with local anesthetic, meaning you won’t be put to sleep.
Call our office at (574) 722-3636 to schedule a free consultation with an expert.
