Spider Veins

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are small veins just under the surface of your skin that may indicate underlying venous disease. They’re tiny, thin veins that vary in color and are called spider veins because they resemble spider webs. 

Spider veins are often associated with varicose veins. Aside from a less than attractive appearance, you might also experience some discomfort, itching, or burning. They usually affect the leg veins, but can sometimes appear on your chest, face, or hands.

What causes spider veins?

Spider veins develop when you have unhealthy valves inside the feeder veins. The faulty valves allow blood to flow backward instead of toward the heart. The backed-up blood enlarges the tiny capillaries underneath the surface of the skin, creating spider veins.

People of all ages can develop spider veins. They’re usually hereditary, so if your parents or grandparents have spider veins, you’re more likely to develop them as well. 

If you’ve been pregnant or have a job or lifestyle that requires standing for long periods, you’re at a higher probability of getting spider veins or making existing spider veins worse.

How are spider veins treated?

Fortunately, spider veins and their underlying cause are quite treatable. The holistic approach taken by the team at Vascular Specialists examines the entirety of vein disease, not just the symptoms.

The primary approach to treating spider veins is with sclerotherapy. With sclerotherapy treatments, your provider at Vascular Specialists gives you a series of microinjections of a solution called a sclerosant. The sclerosant goes into the spider veins and closes them off.

Over time, the treated veins shrink, and your body eventually absorbs the treated cells. Blood flow naturally diverts into healthy veins, improving your circulation and eliminating the root cause of your spider veins.

Though you may undergo ultrasound imaging to rule out underlying vascular conditions, and real-time imaging is often used when treating varicose veins, it’s usually not necessary for performing sclerotherapy injections to treat spider veins. Your provider at Vascular Specialists can carry out your sclerotherapy treatment with a visual inspection.

Sclerotherapy is a safe, proven treatment that takes just 30 minutes and requires minimal recovery time. 

Find out how you could banish unsightly spider veins with ease by calling Vascular Specialists today or by booking an appointment online.