Spider veins on legs are a common problem among men and women over 45 years of age. Recent estimates indicate that as many as half of all people over the age of 50 have some sort of vein abnormality on their legs. Spider veins on legs are small raised blood vessels on the surface of the skin that twist and branch out like spider webs. Also common are varicose veins, which are a larger version of the same thing. They can appear as blue, red, or flesh-colored, and are very visible, as the swollen veins lie just below the surface of the skin. When treating various types of bulging veins on legs, doctors may use a variety of different methods.
Compression Stockings
Treatment for spider veins on legs usually begins with the regular use of compression stockings. Compression hosiery such as Jobst medical legwear is used to apply pressure to the veins and help improve leg circulation. They are available over the counter, though stockings with higher levels of compression are available with a prescription.
Lifestyle Modification
After compression stockings, most doctors will recommend a series of lifestyle adjustments in the course of treating spider veins. Many people suffer from abnormal veins as a result of circulation problems in legs, so treatment is generally focused on improving poor circulation. Weight loss if you are overweight is the first step, along with frequent cardiovascular exercise. Elevating your legs multiple times per day can also help reduce the swelling and aching.
Sclerotherapy
One of the oldest treatments, and one of the most common in use today, is sclerotherapy. This is because the sclerotherapy cost is quite low compared to other treatments, it does not interfere in the patient’s lifestyle, it does not require anesthesia, and it can be performed during a routine office visit.
During sclerotherapy, the doctor will inject a highly concentrated saline solution into the vein. This causes the vein to seal shut and develop a scar. Over several weeks, the vein should fade and the body should re-absorb it, though multiple treatments may be necessary.
People will notice localized discomfort, stinging, or discoloration following treatment, but these symptoms generally decrease over a few days.
Surface Lasers or Light Pulses
Some treatments involve using lasers or light pulses to burn up and destroy abnormal spider veins and some smaller varicose veins in legs. Many people prefer this method because it is entirely non-invasive, requiring no needles or surgery. The downside, however, is that there can be some lingering pain for a few days after the conclusion of the procedure. The high heat used may also cause blistering or skin discoloration.
Endovenous Radio Or Laser Treatment
Most endovenous methods are very similar to a surface laser treatment, only the laser or radio probe is used inside the vein itself through the use of a tiny catheter. This is the preferred method for deeper varicose or spider veins on legs that cannot be reached through surface treatment.
Local anesthesia is used and this procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, though there may be some bruising as a result of the procedure. In some cases, other spider veins that are connected to the main vein may also decrease in size following this procedure.
Surgery
When the spider veins on legs have grown into large varicose veins that do not respond to other forms of treatment, surgery will be employed. There are various methods in doing so, but the end result is that the entire vein is surgically removed from the leg. Recovery can take several weeks to a month.
This surgery is generally considered to be safe, though there are a number of warnings common to all surgeries that must be considered before proceeding. Scarring, infection, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage are among the possible, though relatively minor risks involved.
Spider veins in legs are largely thought of as a relatively minor cosmetic annoyance, and to a large degree this is true. Many patients will not require any treatment at all, but if you have any worries or are suffering from any other conditions, be sure to speak with your doctor about what sort of treatment is right for you. He will also provide you with some health tips as to preventing spider veins on legs from developing, but the best way to go about it is to stay active, maintain a healthy weight, and to wear support stockings.