Spider Veins and Serious Vein Disorders

By Sanjiv Lakhanpal, MD

Center for Vein Restoration

. https://www.centerforvein.com/

Spider Veins and Serious Vein Disorders

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins appear near the surface of the skin, are blue or red in color, and look similar to a spider web or tree roots. For the most part, spider veins form on thighs and calves, but can also appear on the face. Unlike varicose veins, which are dark purple or blue and appear swollen and raised, spider veins are not an essential part of the venous system. More than 60% of adult women have spider veins, however they are typically painless and easily treated.

How Do Spider Veins Develop?

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to the development of spider veins. In women, hormonal shifts like puberty and menopause heighten the possibility of spider veins, as does pregnancy, although such veins that occur during pregnancy often vanish during the months after birth. Other factors include weight gain, prolonged sitting or standing, aging, or a leg injury, and, of course, there is always heredity. Though spider veins occur in men, it is with much less frequency.

Spider Veins As a Symptom

If you think you have spider veins, your first step should be to visit your doctor to make sure they are not varicose veins and can be treated effectively. Spider veins can sometimes be an early symptom of venous insufficency. If left untreated or if only the surface issue of spider veins is corrected, the spider veins can eventually reoccur and more serious vein issues can occur.

Spider Veins and Sclerotherapy

During your initial consultation, your doctor will examine your legs for vein problems, perform an ultrasound venous study, map out a treatment strategy, discuss your expectations, and go over specific treatment opportunities. Usually the appearance of unsightly veins can be diminished or negated through the use of sclerotherapy, a solution injected into the targeted vessels.

During sclerotherapy treatment no anesthetic is used and pain is experienced in the form of pricking from the needle and slight sensation from the injected solution. The treatment takes between 30-45 minutes, depending on the amount of treatment needed. Often, more than one session is necessary for optimal results.

Recovery/Post Op Expectations

On the day of treatment, arrive at your doctor's office or clinic in comfortable clothing that exposes the area that is to be treated. You should also bring long pants and physician prescribed compression stockings. After treatment you may experience some bruising and discoloration. Treated areas will appear to get worse before they get better. Gauze bandages may be placed over areas of injections and are usually kept on for 24 hours. Compression stockings or support hose are typically worn for three days and nights continuously and may be removed for showering.

Complications are rare, but can include irritation due to an allergic reaction, the appearance of new veins around treated areas and blood clots. Patients may also experience mild itching or aching that is easily treated with analgesics and anti-itch creams.

It is always important to choose an experienced provider and be sure to insist on a venous study before any sclerotherapy session. This is important to rule out venous insufficiency.

If venous insufficiency is found, endovenous ablation is a very effective, pain-free option that can be performed in a vein specialists office with tremendous results. Unlike sclerotherapy, which typically costs about $350 per session and is not covered by insurance, endovenous ablation is covered by most insurance companies.