One common problem, especially for people who spend a lot of time standing or sitting, is the development of spider veins. Although these little nuisances are small, they can have a big impact on how you feel about your legs. Luckily, you can get rid of these veins with some effective treatment methods. We at Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX are waiting to lend our expertise to help you get relief from this common issue.
The tiny blood vessels that exist just under the surface of your skin can become enlarged and twisted over the time. These veins then appear as red, blue, or purple marks on your skin. These visible veins get their name because they group together and form intricate patterns that somewhat resemble a spider web. Another name used to describe this issue is telangiectasias.
Professions where people spend a lot of time sitting or standing, including but not limited to office workers or flight attendants, commonly notice this problem. Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, can also be a cause of this issue occurring.
Out of all the treatment methods available for these veins, perhaps the most effective is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. During sclerotherapy, a solution is injected into the target veins that you want to see reduced. The walls of the small blood vessels causing the issue become irritated by the solution, losing their ability to carry blood to nearby areas. This causes the tiny veins to disappear over time, giving your skin the natural appearance it once had.
Before the veins can be treated, the first step is to visualize the veins beneath the skin using a special ultrasound machine. This will allow our team to keep track of the target veins for the duration of the therapy to ensure maximum efficiency. Before the injection is applied, the target area is first treated with a numbing medication to ensure your comfort. After that, a tiny needle is inserted to deliver the sclerotherapy solution into each vein that requires treatment.
With the help of the ultrasound used earlier, the treatment can be precisely targeted to a certain number of veins, which determines how long treatment takes. After the injection, both legs are soothed with compression stockings. These stockings help to reduce discomfort or swelling that may occur after treatment, boosting your recovery to let you get back to doing what you love and resuming your normal life.
There are a number of different factors that can contribute to the appearance of these veins. Damage from the sun or spending too much time sitting down or standing up can be contributing factors. They may also be the result simply of genetics or a hormonal imbalance. Because these causes are so common, many different people from all different kinds of backgrounds will deal with these unwanted veins at some point in their lives.
In most cases, this issue is merely a cosmetic problem that doesn’t cause a great deal of pain. However, the veins can become irritated or inflamed in some circumstances, leading to symptoms such as burning, tingling, or aching sensations in your legs. There are of course the visible symptoms as well, with colored marks appearing on your skin. Fortunately, these symptoms can be alleviated if the underlying condition is treated.
Every patient’s needs are different, so there is no set timeframe for the intervals between treatments that you’ll need. The size of each vein being treated as well as your reaction to the treatment solution will determine how many numbers it takes for the veins to disappear entirely. Most patients see significant improvements after just two to four sclerotherapy sessions.
In most cases, it takes between two and three months following treatment for the veins to disappear. In some cases, however, it might be up to six months after the first treatment session that you see the veins fade away completely. The exact length of time it takes depends on the unique nature of your body and your reaction to the treatment.
In most cases, veins will begin to return if you don’t stop the behaviors that cause them to form in the first place. However, you’ll enjoy results from this treatment that can last from anywhere between two years and your whole life. For some patients, additional touch-up treatment sessions after two years can be beneficial to get the best results possible, preventing the veins from appearing again.
This common problem isn’t one that you have to suffer through any longer. Sclerotherapy, as well as other treatment options our experts can discuss with you, are proven solutions that will have your legs back to their normal condition within a few short months. Contact Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX today to learn more about how you can get relief from this condition.
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