What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are those little red or blue veins that become visible on the skin of your legs, ankles and sometimes your face. Spider veins may be small but they are no small problem for those who have them. Many women refuse to wear anything exposing their legs or ankles for fear of people seeing their spider veins. At Allegany Vein Clinic we treat abnormal veins of all sizes, but spider veins are one of the most common. The good news is that spider veins can be eliminated or greatly reduced by laser treatment. Call today for a consultation. Many times treatment can be performed the same day!
What Causes Spider Veins?
There are many theories about what causes spider veins, however, much like varicose veins the most common risk factor is genetics. That’s right! This means that your spider veins may not be caused by crossing your legs, wearing high heels or knee-high stockings, but these may make your spider veins worse. For more information on the causes of spider veins, click on the risk factors of varicose veins as they are the same.
Spider Vein Treatment at Allegany Vein Clinic
Spider veins can be successfully treated with either the Laser or Sclerotherapy. Both of these treatments are minimally invasive and are performed in the comfort of our office here in Cumberland, Maryland.
Traditionally, spider veins have been treated with Sclerotherapy where the vein is injected with a medicine that damages the vein and the body dissolves the vein away. With the advent of the Laser, spider veins can be treated without needles or support hose and requires no downtime. For more information about the Laser click here.
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Some spider veins require treatment with Sclerotherapy instead of the laser either because they are too large or may not respond to the Laser. Spider veins may have a larger vessel that “feeds” into the patch of spider veins. This larger vein often called a “feeder vein” can be injected, often causing the disappearance of the spider veins or allowing the remainder of the veins to be successfully treated with the laser. Whenever Sclerotherapy is used, the vein needs a little support usually in the form of compression stockings to hold the vein closed. This is typically only required for a period of 1-2 weeks.
Sorting out whether to use the Laser or Sclerotherapy for your spider vein treatment is best decided after a consultation with our trained staff at Allegany Vein Clinic. Allow us to give you a thorough consultation and discuss the options available to help accomplish your goals.
More Information on Spider Veins
Spider veins, also called “telangiectasias” are small blood vessels located beneath the surface of the skin. Spider veins are often associated with varicose veins, however, can exist in the absence of any visible varicose veins. Spider veins are usually 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter and can range from light red to purple or blue in color. The body relies on a dynamic network of blood vessels to communicate blood between arteries and veins and these small blood vessels can become dilated and thus visible to the naked eye. This can be caused by direct damage to the network of veins causing abnormal pressure and dilation of the veins or from the formation of abnormal new veins. Spider veins are most commonly found on the thighs, calves, ankles or face, where they may be a cosmetic concern.
Spider vein treatment is best started with an evaluation and understanding of possible contributing factors. Sometimes larger veins, that may or may not be visible, need to be treated before proceeding with treatment of the spider veins. Treatments for spider veins can be with traditional Sclerotherapy or with Laser light treatment or may require a combination of both. We try to educate all patients as to their options and design a customized treatment plan that meets the patient’s goals.
