I'm Embarrassed About My Spider Veins

Happy New Year from the team at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California! Winter is in full swing here in Southern California. And while the skirts and shorts of the warmer spring and summer months may seem far away, if you’re embarrassed by spider veins, now is the perfect time to start treatment.

Our experienced providers know how self-conscious spider veins can make you feel about baring your skin in the warmer seasons. That’s why we offer customized outpatient sclerotherapy treatments to help give you clearer skin.

Keep reading to learn more about this minimally invasive therapy and how it can give you legs you’ll be happy to show off in time for spring and summer.

Understanding leg veins

The red, blue, or purple branching lines called spider veins are caused by broken valves in the tiny capillaries just under your skin. The damaged valves led to blood pooling in these small veins, making visible lines on your skin.

Spider veins can be unsightly, but they rarely cause any other symptoms. Many people with spider veins also have varicose veins. Broken valves also cause these larger veins, and since they’re bigger, they cause ropey, coil-like protrusions to appear under the surface of your skin.

Unlike spider veins, varicose veins can come with frustrating symptoms, like difficulty walking or sitting, restless legs, swelling, itching sensations, and skin discoloration. They can also put you at higher risk for complications, including chronic edema, blood clots, infections, ulcers, and varicosity hemorrhage.

Although anyone can get these veins, your risk is higher if you:

Are female
Are middle-aged or older
Are or have been pregnant
Struggle with weight challenges
Stand or sit for extended periods
Have a family history of vascular issues

The good news is that both spider veins and small- to medium-sized varicose veins can be successfully treated with minimally invasive sclerotherapy at our San Juan Capistrano office. Most people with spider veins are good candidates for minimally invasive sclerotherapy.

Treating spider veins with sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a treatment that works by injecting an irritant (called a sclerosant solution) into the problematic vein. The safe treatment causes an irritation on the walls of the treated veins, which makes them collapse.

When the vein collapses, blood can’t enter, and over time, the treated vein withers and dies. It’s removed by your body’s natural waste removal system with other cellular waste and debris. The process can take several weeks to months, depending on the size and location of the vein.

You don’t need any anesthesia during this in-office treatment, and you can resume most activities immediately. You’ll need to wear compression stockings and walk daily for several weeks after treatment to help your body process the veins.

Our team gives you specific post-treatment instructions, but generally, we recommend avoiding strenuous physical activity, hot water or compresses, and exposure to direct sunlight for at least the first 48 hours after treatment.

At HK Dermatology, our team uses liquid sclerotherapy on smaller veins because the solution is less potent compared to foam sclerotherapy. During this treatment, your provider injects a medicated liquid solution into your veins. That causes the walls to collapse, which starts the process that will cause the vein to wither.

Why start sclerotherapy now

If you have spider veins, don’t wait to contact HK Dermatology. Winter is the perfect time to begin sclerotherapy since it’s best to avoid direct sunlight after treatment, and here in sunny Southern California, the cooler winter months make it easier to stay covered up.

In addition, your legs need time (between 4-12 weeks depending on vein size) to process the treated veins and heal before the skin-baring seasons of spring and summer begin. Plus, starting in winter gives your provider time to perform any touch-up injections, since some stubborn veins may need more than one injection for optimal results.

Schedule an appointment online or over the phone with a provider at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California, to learn how sclerotherapy can help you.