Spider veins are extremely common, especially in adults 50 and older. While spider veins are not often associated with greater health risks, they can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Spider vein treatment is one of the most common procedures performed by vein doctors. If you are wondering how to get rid of spider veins, there are multiple options.
Your doctor might recommend a treatment option based on the severity of your case, your health, or your lifestyle. Spider vein treatment options range from minimally invasive procedures to conservative therapy. Here are a few of the most common types of spider vein treatments your doctor might recommend.
In some cases, spider veins are caused by certain lifestyle habits. This could be as simple as sitting or standing for long periods of time throughout the day. Other risk factors include obesity and age. Pregnant women are also more likely to develop spider veins in their legs.
To mitigate some of these risk factors, your doctor might recommend conservative spider vein treatment. This involves regular self-care and lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet or exercise regimen. Exercise can improve the circulation in your legs and also reduce the risk of developing spider veins or varicose veins.
Other self-care habits can be relatively simple. Taking more frequent breaks from either sitting or standing for long periods can be beneficial. Another common recommendation is to keep your legs elevated when lying down to relieve pressure in the legs.
Lastly, a vein doctor might prescribe compression stockings to help manage your spider veins. Compression stockings provide pressure in the legs, which reduces pain and swelling while also improving circulation.
These treatment options are effective at reducing symptoms and preventing the development of new spider veins. However, they do not get rid of existing spider veins. To remove unsightly spider veins, you will need more advanced treatment.
The most effective way to remove spider veins completely is with sclerotherapy treatment. Sclerotherapy is also frequently used to treat varicose veins, in addition to spider veins.
In sclerotherapy treatment, your doctor will inject a chemical irritant, called a sclerosant, into the affected veins. Sclerosant causes the lining of the vein to become damaged before closing off. This causes the blood from the vein to be dispersed elsewhere, where it can circulate back to your heart normally. The damaged vein is eventually absorbed by the body.
Using ultrasound, you and your doctor can actually watch this process in real-time. The procedure is quick and minimally invasive. However, patients do need to exercise some caution following the procedure. Your doctor will prescribe a compression sleeve to be worn immediately after the procedure. This will promote healthy circulation and reduce any potential inflammation caused by the spider vein treatment. Your doctor may also recommend light exercise each day (such as short walks) for a week or two following sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is usually the preferred method of spider vein removal because it is safe. Patients report very few negative side effects. Other spider vein treatments, like laser removal, can cause scarring and discomfort, for example. Sclerotherapy produces no risk of scarring, and most patients report zero to minimal discomfort or side effects following the procedure.
Once removed, your spider veins are completely gone and won’t return. However, it is always possible to develop new spider veins. To combat this, your doctor may recommend any of the conservative treatment options mentioned above after sclerotherapy treatment.
For the best and most reliable spider vein treatment in the East Bay, contact BASS Vein Center today. BASS Vein Center’s team has unmatched knowledge and experience when it comes to treating all types of vein conditions.
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