What Can I Do About Spider Veins?

Do your spider veins make you feel self-conscious about your legs, feet, or other parts of your body? While spider veins don’t usually cause serious side effects, they can make a person uncomfortable and less likely to feel confident about their body.

Fortunately, our physicians and nurse practitioners at HK Dermatology can treat your spider veins with sclerotherapy. This minimally invasive therapy can remove your spider veins with just a few injections.  

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are small, blue or red veins that can appear on the legs and face. They aren’t usually a cause for concern, and they don’t lead to symptoms in most people.

Spider veins in the legs can form when valves in the veins stop working, which can allow blood to flow backwards and pool in the veins. Spider veins in the face often occur when a blood vessel bursts. 

Can spider veins be treated at home?

Though many websites may claim that spider veins can be removed at home, this isn’t true. Removing spider veins requires medical treatment. Massages and creams might make them hurt less, but to remove them entirely, you will need professional medical intervention.

Treating your spider veins with sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is one of the easiest and safest procedures to treat spider veins. The process involves injecting the veins with a chemical solution. The solution causes the walls of the veins to stick together and close. The blood is then rerouted to different veins. Eventually, your body will naturally eliminate the closed veins.

After injecting the solution, your provider will massage your leg and give you a compression sock to reduce pain, discomfort, and possible bruising. You might be asked to continue wearing the sock for 2-4 weeks after treatment. After your injection, you will likely be held at the office for a few hours for observation. In most cases, you will be allowed to go home the same day and return to your normal activities the next day.

Does sclerotherapy work?

Sclerotherapy is very effective in treating spider veins. It has been used since the 1930s to treat spider veins, and over the years, the solutions used have been enhanced to make them better and safer.

Depending on the size of the vein, you may need one or more treatments. Your provider will be able to give you an idea of how many treatments you will need and what else you should expect from sclerotherapy during your consultation.

You don’t have to live with spider veins. To learn more about sclerotherapy, book an appointment online or over the phone with HK Dermatology today.