Spider veins can be a disturbing condition, not because it can harm you seriously, but because it can give you mental issues about your own aesthetic appearance. Not that we all love to show off our legs, but still, having prominent veins that raise up all through the leg can truly make us feel uncomfortable! These types of spider veins appear on your skin as branches of red, purple, or blue lines, and are mostly caused by some form of damage to the veins. Remember, that there is a big difference between Spider veins and varicose veins, even though they look somewhat the same!

Although spider veins typically don't hurt or cause injury, there are several treatment methods that can resolve the issue, and give you your comfort back. Spider veins almost always appear in the legs, and can be quite noticeable even from a short distance, but, if you compare them to varicose veins, they are often smaller. Do you only want to lessen the visibility of the veins? Go for laser therapy or Sclerotherapy,  and that will do the job! But maybe you should learn more about spider veins, their differences from varicose veins, and available treatments before you make your decision.

What are Spider Veins?

Broken blood vessels that are visible just beneath the skin's surface are called Spider veins (telangiectasias). They often have a red, blue, or purple color. The term comes from the fact that these prominent veins may resemble spider webs and make a nasty look on the skin! They afflict over 50% of women and people assigned female at birth, and their frequency increases beyond the age of 70.

Spider veins are a common condition that can form anywhere on the body, however, they usually surface on the legs in most patients. Spider veins generally don't pose a threat, they just indicate minor blood vessel injury, so you need not worry too much about it. But, one thing you should remember is that spider veins may occasionally be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vascular disorder that can lead to major medical issues. 

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a medical technique used for the treatment of Spider veins. Your doctor will inject a specific solution into the Spider vein using a needle so that the lining of your blood vessels becomes irritated. This irritation causes it to swell and seal it shut, and as a result, your blood gets redirected. Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive process, so, you might want to give it a try! As a matter of fact, research found that 80% of patients who had Sclerotherapy did not need additional treatment.

How is the Sclerotherapy Process Performed?  

Sclerotherapy is an in-office procedure. Your healthcare professional will use an ultrasound to find the exact blood vessel that needs this treatment. Sclerosing treatment takes approximately 30-45 minutes, and depending on the location of the condition, you may lie on your stomach or your back. 

Several compounds are available for use in sclerotherapy, which your physician can select from depending on the size of the Spider vein they are treating. To make sure you don't have an adverse response, your doctor could perform a test injection first and wait a while before continuing. They will first disinfect the treatment area and then extend the skin surrounding the injection location. While the healthcare practitioner prepares to insert the needle into the skin, an assistant may aid with these processes. 

Your doctor will inject a liquid straight into your blood vessel using extremely tiny needles, and you can experience a slight burning sensation during this. A little pain is also possible, and you can experience cramping in bigger veins for a minute or two as well. The size, location, and general health of the Spider veins will determine how many Spider veins your doctor treats in a single session. 

It's critical to heed the doctor's advice following the procedure. Compression stockings may be necessary for patients to aid in their recuperation and stop new varicose veins from growing during healing time. However, some people get scars or bruises after the injection is given. Larger Spider veins often show results in 3-6 weeks, whereas the smaller ones typically show results in 3 months. The veins will vanish if the therapy is effective, but the doctor could suggest more therapies if that isn't the case. To monitor the results of the Sclerotherapy, a patient would require a follow-up visit with their physician for a physical examination.

Are there Differences between Spider Veins and Varicose Veins?

Veins are large blood channels that return blood with low oxygen content to the heart, and severe vein damage results in Varicose veins. Spider veins are not real veins, they are injured venules, arterioles, and damaged capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that are a component of your circulatory system.

Constant leg pain and discomfort are common symptoms associated with Varicose veins.  People often want to know how do you get rid of varicose veins or how to manage the condition. Using compression stockings or other at-home treatments provides relief! If you still have questions about how do you get rid of varicose veins, it is best that you consult a doctor. 

Spider veins are smaller than real veins and pose no serious harm to the patient. Treatment may not be required if the patient does not experience any symptoms or pain and does not object to the appearance of the Spider veins.  

Final Remarks  

Broken or damaged blood vessels can cause spider veins, and even though they look painful due to the red or blue color, they usually don't hurt or create health issues. Spider veins can be completely removed using a range of medical techniques, but for smaller Spider veins, Sclerotherapy is often the preferred treatment. 

However, it's critical to have reasonable expectations regarding the efficacy of Sclerotherapy, because Sclerotherapy does not always ensure that Spider veins will disappear completely in all patients. Sometimes, Spider veins can be the symptoms of other diseases, such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and it's a good idea to discuss any new Spider veins you observe with a healthcare professional.