Dr. Bruce R. Hoyle, M.D.
Specialist in the Treatment of Varicose Veins
What Are Spider Veins?
What Are the Most Effective Treatments for Spider Veins?
Millions of women and men are bothered by
spider veins - those small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple
veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. In fact,
it's estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued
with this common cosmetic problem.
Today, physicians of the Advance Vein Care Center are treating spider
veins with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are
injected with a sclerosing solution, which causes them to collapse and fade
from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated
with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.
Although this procedure has been
used in Europe for more than 50 years, it has only become popular in the
United States during the past decade. The introduction of sclerosing
agents that are mild enough to be used in small veins has made
sclerotherapy predictable and relatively painless.
If you're considering sclerotherapy to improve the appearance of your
legs, this brochure will give you a basic understanding of the procedure -
when it can help, how it's performed and what results you can expect. It
won't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual
circumstances. Please ask your doctor if there is anything about the
procedure you don't understand.
Spider
veins - known in the medical world as telangiectasias
or sunburst varicosities - are small, thin veins that lie close to the
surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with
the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it.
A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins,
including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts,
weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or
standing, and the use of certain medications.
Spider veins usually take on one of three basic patterns. They may appear
in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark
central point; they may be arborizing and will resemble tiny branch-like
shapes; or they may be simple linear and appear as thin separate lines.
Linear spider veins are commonly seen on the inner knee, whereas the
arborizing pattern often appears on the outer thigh in a sunburst or
cartwheel distribution.
Varicose veins differ from spider veins in a number of ways. Varicose veins are larger - usually more than a quarter-inch in diameter, darker in color and tend to bulge. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders. For some patients, sclerotherapy can be used to treat varicose veins. However, often surgical treatment is necessary for this condition.
More about spider vein treatments and sclerotherapy ...