What causes spider veins?
Spider veins develop when valves designed to keep blood flowing in one direction fail to work properly. As a result, blood flows backward and accumulates between valves, making tiny veins near the skin’s surface large enough to become visible.
These purple-, blue-, and green-looking veins branch out under the skin, resembling a spider’s web. Reticular veins are like spider veins, but they occur in slightly larger and deeper blood vessels. While spider veins can develop anywhere on your body, they commonly appear on your legs and face.
Spider veins, sometimes called thread veins, seldom cause symptoms or health problems. However, they may be the sign of an underlying problem, such as venous insufficiency, affecting larger veins in your legs.
What increases my risk for spider veins?
Several factors make you more likely to develop spider veins, including:
- Genetics or a family history of spider veins
- Increasing age
- Sitting or standing for a long time
- Physical injury to the veins
- Hormonal changes due to oral contraceptives or pregnancy
Women often develop spider veins or varicose veins during pregnancy as hormone changes weaken vein walls and the baby’s weight increases pressure on leg veins.
How are spider veins treated?
The doctors at Glow Health LLC Institute have extensive experience eliminating spider veins using treatments such as:
Sclerotherapy
Your doctor performs sclerotherapy by injecting a medication such as Asclera® (polidocanol) or Sotradecol® into the spider veins. These sclerosing agents make the vein collapse and form a scar. The veins slowly disappear as your body absorbs the scar tissue.
Cryo-sclerotherapy
Cryo-sclerotherapy allows your doctor to perform painless sclerotherapy by applying very cold air to your skin before and during your injection. The cold air serves as a local anesthetic as it numbs the area.
Is spider vein elimination permanent?
The spider veins treated are permanently eliminated, but new veins may develop in the future. You can’t predict whether you’ll develop new spider veins in the same area, but you may prevent them by lowering your risk factors. For example, taking frequent breaks from sitting to move your legs may help you avoid spider veins.
If you’re ready to get rid of spider veins, call Glow Health LLC Institute or schedule an appointment online.
To reach us please dial this phone number: 201-445-4410
