What are spider veins?

Spider veins are abnormally dilated blood vessels in the skin. They usually appear on the legs but can also occur on the face, chest, arms, and back. Contrary to what many doctors think, spider veins can cause the same symptoms as much larger varicose veins, including itching, burning, heaviness, and fatigue in the legs. Although they may be symptomatic, spider veins are not usually a health hazard and do not lead to serious complications. In rare cases they can bleed profusely after being injured, but otherwise they are treated mostly as a cosmetic problem. However, spider veins appearing in unusual locations, such as the inside of the calf or ankle are usually indicative of a more serious vein problem, and treatment of these unusual spider veins may not be successful until the deeper vein problem is eliminated.

What causes spider veins?

Spider veins may develop in two ways. First, tiny pre-existing veins can enlarge and become dilated over time. Secondly, your body actually grows new veins where it doesn't need them...in the skin. Pregnancy, estrogen-containing medications, and hormonal fluctuations may stimulate their appearance, thus, spider veins are more common in women. They are not caused by crossing the legs or by years of prolonged standing or sitting at work. The tendency to develop abnormal veins is largely hereditary, and there is not much you can do to prevent them. Support hose, exercise, and dietary supplements are helpful for symptoms, but do not prevent new spider veins (or varicose veins) from appearing. In some cases, the appearance of spider veins may be an indication that there are larger diseased veins underneath the skin. The physician may use ultrasound to search for any hidden diseased veins. If larger diseased veins are found, they need to be treated first and eliminated or else spider vein treatment will be ineffective.

How are spider veins treated?

Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for spider veins. During sclerotherapy, a safe, painless, FDA-approved solution (not the old fashioned and painful 'saline') is injected into the abnormal veins causing them to shrink and disappear. Blood is re-routed into nearby healthy veins. Although there has been much publicity about 'laser' treatment for spider veins, most vein specialists consider laser therapy to be less effective and more painful than sclerotherapy. Interestingly, spider veins on the face appear to respond better to lasers than do spider veins on the legs.

What is a typical spider vein treatment like?

Each treatment session is 30 minutes long. We typically treat both legs front and back during each treatment session. Initial treatments will focus on the most heavily involved areas or the most symptomatic areas. The average patient usually requires 3 to 6 treatment sessions, but patients with large numbers of spider veins will require more. After a spider vein treatment, support stockings are worn for 1-3 days (just during the day), and there are no activity restrictions. There is no need to 'take it easy' or lie down and elevate your legs. Sun exposure and tanning bed use are discouraged during the first 2 weeks after each treatment. Patients are instructed to walk as much as possible in the days following each treatment.

Is spider vein treatment painful?

Spider vein treatments are relatively painless. Sedation and local anesthesia are not usually needed. You may drive yourself to and from your appointments and go right back to work and resume your normal routine, including exercise, immediately following treatment. The medications used for spider vein treatments are painless, unlike the old fashioned 'saline' treatments of days gone by.

As an added incentive for those patients who can't stand the sight of needles, the Vein Center of Charlotte offers nitrous oxide sedation/analgesia. Also known as ‘laughing gas’ like your dentist uses, nitrous oxide allows patients to relax and makes the treatments much easier. After the treatment, the gas is turned off, and you are completely back to normal in just 5 minutes! You can drive yourself home or back to work! There is no hangover, and you can still have that glass of wine with dinner! Certain patients cannot have nitrous oxide, such as patients with recent retina surgery, vitamin deficiencies, heart failure and emphysema. Nitrous oxide is also available for laser hair removal treatment! Ask the doctor if nitrous oxide is right for your next cosmetic procedure!

Can you get rid of these unsightly veins in my hands?

It is too often said that a person's hands give away their age. Veins on the backs of the hands become more prominent with age. This is due in large part to the atrophy of the soft tissue on the hands and not just to actual enlargement of the veins themselves. These unsightly veins can be effectively eliminated in most cases. Injection sclerotherapy is performed over several sessions to gradually shrink the veins and make them disappear. After treatment of hand veins, bandages are worn on the hands for the rest of that day. Temporary side effects of hand vein treatment include bruising and swelling. Patients who do not have many veins in their arms should not have their hand veins treated, as their hand veins would need to be used in the hospital to administer intravenous medications if this were ever needed. Ask the physician if treatment of unsightly hand veins is right for you!