Leg Veins (Spider Veins)
Leg Veins (Varicose Veins and Spider Veins)
Leg veins can be seen under the skin in blue or purple color. Basically, when one see a lot of veins, it might be considered unsightly for some individuals. Although at SIAN we don't agree with all these opinions and the eye should be on the beholder, we do offer some solutions to leg veins (spider veins).
So why does it occur? All veins contain one way valves to ensure blood flows up towards the heart. When there is a failure in these valves, blood is free to flow back down. When this happens and blood goes back down, this creates pressure expanding the veins. When these varicose veins become widened, they do not close properly leaving them visible.
If varicose veins become swollen, twisted and enlarged clusters, they can be seen under the skin in blue or purple color. Often times, they are surrounded by spider veins, which are smaller capillaries of red or blue in color. These spider-web like capillary networks are also positioned closer to the surface of the skin.
Usually both of these damaged veins develop on legs or pelvic areas.
Symptoms
Often times, people have not developed any symptoms in regards to these damaged veins. But the appearance of the veins themselves is quite unappealing, and people feel uncomfortable having them. On top of that, some discomfort in form of aching, swelling and heaviness in legs can be an irritate problem.
These symptoms can become worse with time. Prolonged standing and sitting can contribute to problematic condition. If left untreated, these veins can develop serious problems such as inflammation of the vein or blood cloth, skin ulcers, red skin rash (eczema), bleeding and deep vein thrombosis.
In order to avoid unwanted complications, it is very crucial to recognize symptoms early and reduce unnecessary risks. Some of the possible symptoms are:
- Swelling of the legs, feet and ankles
- Visible swollen veins
- Itching of veins
- Soreness, cramps and aching of the muscles
- Skin sores that do not heal timely
- Color change in the skin around legs and ankles
- Heaviness, tiredness and tingling in the legs
- Dry and scaly skin
At SIAN, we use a minor procedure called Sclerotherapy which is a safe and virtually pain-free technique to banish these problematic veins. Other options such as surgery is considered invasive and not performed at SIAN. These we would refer out for you if surgery is a more desired option.
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a relatively simple and non-invasive treatment, normally used to treat leg veins. It consists of special salt water or chemical solution which then injected into the damaged veins. This substance causes the veins to harden and disappear within a few weeks time. Some of the patients might require several treatments in order for the veins to disappear completely. The number of treatments depends on the complexity of the veins protrusion and the treated areas. Also, some veins require more injections to disappear completely.
Advantages of Sclerotherapy
- No downtime
- Non-invasive
- Quick and easy
- Many veins can be treated at once
- Minimal side effects
- Relatively painless
Recovery and Aftercare
Since there is no downtime, you are able to get back to your daily life right after treatment. It is advised to move around to help stimulate the healing process, but any intense exercise is not recommended. Also, travelling by air, hot baths or saunas must be avoided for 3 weeks.
As a result of injections, small bruising might appear, but that is normal and will gradually fade after a few days time. Our experts will give you detailed instructions about aftercare. In order to make sure your healing process goes smoothly, check-up visit needs to be scheduled two weeks post treatment.