Spider Vein Treatment

You may have seen the small, colored veins crawling up your legs and wondered what can be done. Luckily, there are quick and easy remedies for spider veins available. Learn the basics of what spider veins are and what you can do about them.

Spider veins are a common concern, that well over 80% of people in the United States get as they age. Spider veins can occur at any age. Most of the time they are a cosmetic issue, but some people do not like the look of them and want them removed. Here’s information about spider veins and what you can do to prevent and treat them.

What Do Spider Veins Look Like?

Spider veins appear when small blood vessels near the surface of the skin become dilated with blood. This makes the vessels visible through the skin. The random patterns make it look somewhat like a spider’s web, which is where the name comes from. Unlike varicose veins, spider veins are flat and don’t change the texture of the skin. They also don’t cause pain in most cases.

Spider Veins Are . . .

• • thread-like appearance similar to spider webs; red, purple, or blue in color
  • mostly on the legs, sometimes on the chest, face, or hands
  • typically a cosmetic concern, but can cause symptoms that affect quality of life
  • sometimes a cause for discomfort, numbness, or tingling

What are the Symptoms and Risks Associated with Spider Veins?

Spider veins can manifest differently depending on the individual. While some people might notice these visible clusters of small veins on the skin as merely a cosmetic issue, others may experience more discomfort.

Common Symptoms:

• Aching and Discomfort: A persistent dull ache can occur, especially after long periods of standing or sitting.
• Burning Sensation: Some individuals report a warm or tingling feeling around the affected area.
• Itching: The skin over spider veins may become itchy, leading to further irritation.

Potential Risks:

• Bleeding: Although rare, spider veins can occasionally lead to bleeding if the skin over them weakens or is injured.
• Increased Sensitivity: The skin around these veins may become more sensitive to touch.

While these symptoms vary greatly among affected individuals, it’s crucial to monitor any changes and consult a healthcare professional if discomfort escalates. This ensures any underlying conditions are addressed promptly.

Where do Spider Veins Occur?

There are two common areas where spider veins appear, the legs and the face. The face gets more because there are many tiny blood vessels in the face so the odds of occurrence are higher. The legs tend to get more because those are the vessels that have to work the hardest in the body. Spider veins are like a less-serious version of varicose veins. This happens when blood does not travel as quickly as it should through the blood vessels. As a result, the blood builds up in the vessel and becomes visible through the skin.

If you get treatment for spider veins you should also get examined for vein disease at the same time. This will help you find out if you are at risk for developing varicose veins. If you experience pain and heaviness in the legs in the evenings and you have spider veins you should get examined. It could be a sign of a serious issue known as deep vein thrombosis.

While spider veins are a common condition, there are certain factors that increase the chance that spider veins will appear. These include:

• • Standing or sitting for too long
  • Family history
  • General lack of exercise
  • Age
  • Obesity
  • Weight gain
  • Certain drugs (e.g. topical corticosteroids)
  • Pregnancy
  • Gender
  • Smoking
  • Certain congenital diseases
  • Hormonal changes

The best way to decrease your chances of getting spider veins is to not sit or stand for long periods of time and to exercise regularly. Strong blood flow keeps your veins healthy and will prevent a buildup of blood in the vessels. Over time and without proper treatment, spider veins and varicose varicose veins can lead to blood clot.

Spider veins may also be the beginning of the development of a vascular health issue. Spider veins can progress into reticular varicose veins, varicose veins trunk, chronic venous insufficiency, and finally trophic ulcers.

While you can prevent severe spider veins with lifestyle changes and minimize their appearance at home with makeup and self-tanner, the only way to get rid of spider veins for good is through a spider vein treatment.

The most common spider vein treatment in Nashville is sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the most common spider vein treatment option. For the treatment, a physician injects a solution into the spider vein that causes its walls to collapse. Blood reroutes to healthy veins when the spider vein constricts and closes. The spider vein then disappears from the surface of the skin.

What Are the Steps Involved in the Sclerotherapy Procedure?

Sclerotherapy is an effective method for addressing spider veins with minimal invasiveness. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what the procedure entails:

1. Preparation: Before the procedure begins, the targeted area is cleaned thoroughly to ensure it’s free of any contaminants.
2. Injection: Using a fine needle, a specialized solution is carefully injected into the affected blood vessel. This solution is designed to irritate the vessel’s lining.
3. Reaction: As a response to the solution, the blood vessel becomes irritated, causing it to swell. This swelling initiates the process of the vessel walls sticking together.
4. Clotting: The solution also promotes clotting within the affected blood vessel. This is an essential step as it disrupts blood flow, which ultimately aids in the vessel’s closure.
5. Transformation: Over the subsequent weeks, the treated vessel gradually transforms into scar tissue. This natural process helps the vessel to fade from visibility, leaving the skin with a smoother and more consistent appearance.

The entire procedure is straightforward, allowing for improved appearance and relief from any associated vascular symptoms.

Just like any other injection therapy, there is a risk of mild bruising and skin discoloration at the sight of the injection. However, any bruising or discoloration should fade within a few weeks.

Endovenous Laser Ablation for Varicose Veins

An injection-free and incision-free option is endovenous laser ablation. For the treatment, a physician focuses a laser on the spider vein. The laser causes a blood clot that blocks off the spider vein and destroys it. 

Laser therapy works well for varicose veins that are too small to target with an injection. Patients may see immediate results or darkened veins that fade in a few months.

Compression Stockings

Compression stockings, also known as compression socks or support stockings, are a non-invasive treatment option for various venous disorders, including spider veins. While they are not a cure for spider veins, they can effectively manage symptoms and improve the overall condition of the veins. Your physician may recommend compression stockings as part of your treatment, depending on your condition and symptoms.

Can Treated Spider Veins Recur After Treatment?

Yes, treated spider veins can indeed recur after being addressed.

Here’s Why:

• New Development: Often, what seems like a recurrence is actually the formation of new spider veins in the same location where previous veins were treated.
• Underlying Causes: The underlying factors that initially caused the spider veins, such as genetics or lifestyle, might still be at play. This can lead to the appearance of new veins over time.
• Treatment Limitations: While treatments like sclerotherapy or laser procedures are effective, they may not always prevent new veins from developing in the future.

To maintain the best results, it’s advisable to follow post-treatment care guidelines and consider periodic follow-up treatments if necessary.

Simply because you have spider veins or varicose veins in your legs, it’s not always a cosmetic problem. A lot of times patients may have problems like swelling, pain, fatigue or heaviness in the legs. Spider veins or varicose veins can often be ‘the tip of the iceberg’ indicating there could be a larger vein issue that needs to be addressed.

During the evaluation, we perform a physical exam and learn the history of the vein issues. How long have you had signs of spider veins or varicose veins? Do you have a family history of spider veins or varicose veins? We also take an ultrasound to see if there are any issues with the valves within the veins.

Typically, the diagnosis of spider veins begins with a simple visual examination. The doctor can usually identify these veins by sight, checking for the characteristic web-like patterns on the skin. However, in some cases, further investigation is necessary.

Additional Testing

• Ultrasound Imaging: As part of the thorough evaluation, we utilize ultrasound technology. This helps us assess any potential problems with the valves within the veins, ensuring that we identify any underlying issues contributing to your symptoms.
• Screening for Vascular Diseases: In certain situations, additional testing may be recommended to rule out other types of vascular diseases. This comprehensive approach ensures that we address any possible underlying causes for your spider veins.

By combining a detailed personal history with advanced diagnostic tools, we ensure a complete understanding of your condition. This thorough process enables us to tailor the most effective treatment plan for your individual needs.

We provide sclerotherapy in each one of our Vein Centre offices in the Brentwood area and middle Tennessee. These treatments are minimally invasive and can be completed in less than one hour. In fact, many of our patients usually get their treatments done on their lunch break and then get back to work immediately.

There’s also no anesthesia, no incisions, and little to no downtime. Sclerotherapy is administered with tiny needles too, which causes less discomfort than normal injections.

Schedule Treatment for Your Spider Veins

For vein relief in Franklin, come find us in the Aspen Grove Medical Center off of Cool Springs Boulevard and Mack Hatcher Parkway. If you live in Belle Meade, find us across the street from the Kroger on Harding Pike. And finally, if you live near Mt. Juliet, find us in the Tristar Summit Medical Plaza off of Mt Juliet Road.

Give us a call today to book your consultation. We look forward to giving you the vein relief you need.

The benefits of spider vein treatment can vary depending on individual circumstances, the severity of the spider veins, and the chosen treatment method. However, here are some common benefits of spider vein treatment:

1. Improved Cosmetic Appearance

One of the main reasons people seek spider vein treatment is to improve their appearance. Spider veins are often considered unsightly, and treatment can help reduce or eliminate their appearance, leading to smoother, clearer skin.

2. Boost in Self-Esteem

Many individuals with spider veins may feel self-conscious about their appearance. Successful treatment can boost self-esteem and self-confidence, allowing people to feel more comfortable in their own skin.

3. Reduced Discomfort

While spider veins are typically painless, some people may experience discomfort, aching, tingling, or a heavy feeling in the affected areas, especially in the legs. Spider vein treatment can alleviate these discomforts.

4. Prevention of Complications

Spider veins, if left untreated, can sometimes progress to more serious conditions like varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Treating spider veins early can help prevent these complications. Early treatment is especially important if you have a family history of venous problems.

5. Improved Circulation

Spider vein treatment can improve blood circulation in the affected areas, reducing the pooling of blood in superficial veins and promoting better overall vascular health.

6. Increased Mobility

For individuals with spider veins in the legs, treatment can lead to improved mobility and reduced fatigue, as discomfort and heaviness are alleviated.

7. Quick Recovery

Many spider vein treatments are minimally invasive and require little to no downtime. This means that individuals can typically resume their daily activities soon after treatment.

8. Customized Solutions

Healthcare providers can tailor treatment plans to the specific needs of each patient, ensuring that the most appropriate and effective treatment method is chosen.

9. Enhanced Quality of Life

Overall, spider vein treatment can significantly enhance a person’s quality of life by addressing both physical and emotional aspects of the condition.

It’s important to note that the specific benefits of spider vein treatment can vary based on the chosen treatment method and individual factors. Before undergoing treatment, individuals should consult with a healthcare provider to discuss their unique situation, treatment options, and expected outcomes.