Best Spider Veins and Varicose Veins Treatment Procedure

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are commonly found on the legs and are knobby, twisted and darkish-blue in appearance. They are caused by faulty valves present within veins which allow the blood to pool inside these superficial veins.

 

Spider Veins

Spider veins are blue or red in color and are similar to varicose veins. But they are smaller, visible veins which are closer to the skin surface covering a large or smaller area. They look like spider webs or tree branches and are mostly found on the legs or face.

What are the causes of Spider/Varicose Veins?

The blood to the heart is carried through by healthy veins through a series of one-way valves. The valves allow blood to flow in the correct direction i.e., from superficial veins to deeper veins and then finally to the heart. The blood vessels are surrounded by muscles which contract and help to pump the blood to the heart. The veins normally have a one-way valve which helps to prevent backflow. But if the valves are defective they allow the blood to flow backwards. This leads to pooling of blood in the vein which buildups pressure and leads to weakening of the vessel wall and the vein tends to bulge/swell and gets twisted. This results in the development of spider veins or varicose veins.

What are the factors responsible for spider and varicose veins?

All are susceptible to the spider and varicose veins and research says that women are twice as susceptible as men. A number of factors are responsible for the development of varicose veins and spider veins. The factors can be listed as follows:

• Aging

• Heredity

• Genetic Predisposition

• A history of blood clots

• Prolonged hours of sitting and standing (E.g.: Teachers and Nurses)

• Obesity

• Hormonal changes in women (during puberty, pregnancy or menopause)

• Birth control pills

• Conditions that cause an increase in pressure in the abdomen which includes constipation, tumors, constipation, and garments like girdles which are tight fitting

Symptoms of Spider/Varicose Veins

The following are the symptoms:

• Aching in the legs.

• Feeling of cramps in the legs.

• Throbbing, burning, tingling or feeling of heaviness in the affected area.

• Itchy and swollen ankles caused due severely inflamed veins that can feel tender when touched. These inflamed veins can also reduce circulation.

• Chronic skin and tissue changes like ulceration and discoloration of the skin.

What are the complications?

These veins may look unattractive and also annoying, but they do not pose any serious threat for health. Sometimes they may cause ulcers or large sores in the skin especially near the ankles. In the case of varicose veins painful blood clots can also be formed.

How are the spider veins and varicose veins diagnosed?

It is very easy to diagnose Spider veins and varicose veins. The doctors will look at the patterns on your feet, legs and the other affected areas. They will also check for swelling, ulcers and tender spots and will look if there are any changes in the skin color. Most of the spider veins and varicose veins do not need to be treated. Doctors suggest treatment procedures if these veins lead to ulcers, phlebitis or bleeding. In some cases people resort to treatment when they want them removed solely for cosmetic reasons.

What are the best home remedies?

To reduce symptoms like pain, muscle fatigue, cramps or soreness you can use these remedial measures at home:

Support Stockings

The simplest and best treatment for spider veins and varicose veins is to use a pair of support stockings. They are also called compression stockings and help to improve circulation and also relieve pain and discomfort in the legs. These stockings are available pantyhose style or knee-high at all surgical supply stores and in some pharmacies.

Lifestyle Changes

• Regular exercise like walking can help to lose excess weight thereby easing the symptoms associated with spider veins and varicose veins.

• In case of swelling include a low salt diet to reduce water retention.

• Elevate your legs whenever possible. You can prop up your legs with a recliner or pillow. They should be positioned in such a way that they rest at or above the level of your heart.

What is the best spider veins and varicose vein treatment?

When home remedies do not show any improvement in the condition, then medical treatment procedure need to be incorporated to eliminate the spider veins and varicose veins. The doctors at Karishma Vein Clinic suggest the following spider vein treatment and varicose vein treatment in Pune. These problematic veins can be treated in two main ways. Surgery is the best option for larger varicose veins, while sclerotherapy can help with deal with smaller spider veins and varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy treatment is very effective and it wipes out 80% of the treated veins. In this procedure the doctor injects a solution directly into the abnormal vein. This leads to the destruction of the affected blood vessels. They become fibrotic and finally disappear. This treatment procedure should be done only by a qualified doctor as it requires a high degree of technical skill and special training. Prior to the treatment, a thorough evaluation should be necessitate in order to avoid side effects like discoloration or the development of new, superficial tiny blood vessels. The solution can be highly caustic and inadvertent injection into areas outside the vein will cause serious side effects in the tissues surrounding the vein.

After the Sclerotherapy treatment spider veins generally tend to disappear in three to six weeks. But varicose veins may take three to four months to respond. Once the varicose veins disappear they do not reappear. But in the case of spider veins you might probably develop new spider veins at the same rate as before.

Laser Therapy and Intense Light Pulse (ILP)

Laser therapy and intense light pulse (ILP) treatment helps to destroy tiny spider veins and small varicose veins by using heat. The heat that is emitted causes the formation of scar tissue which eventually closes off the affected vein. Some patients feel this is an appealing alternative to injections. Skin discoloration, formation of blisters and minor discomfort in the treated area are the side effects of this treatment.

Laser therapy works more slowly than Sclerotherapy treatment and requires more than one session to achieve the required results. It can take a year or two for the veins to completely disappear.

Vein Surgery

In the case of varicose veins that are too large they will not respond to both Sclerotherapy and laser therapy. In this case vein surgery is the best option. The standard vein surgery procedure is ligation and stripping wherein the vein is tied and the problematic segment is removed. This treatment may be done with local or general anesthesia. In case the spider veins and varicose veins are present near the skin surface, they may be removed through a tiny incision. In such cases there is no requirement for stitches. This procedure successfully removes varicose veins in almost nine out of 10 people. As the procedure does not require a hospital stay most patients return to work in a few days.

Endovenous Laser

The Endovenous laser treatment is the latest procedure and is a new alternative for veins that were earlier treatable by surgery only. In this procedure a small laser fiber is inserted inside the vein. The laser delivers pulses of laser light and placing pressure is placed on the vein. This causes the affected vein to collapse. According to research endovenous laser treatment is effective 98% of the time and patients report less pain. The recovery is quicker than vein surgery.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Another treatment option for large varicose veins is Radiofrequency ablation. This procedure is similar to endovenous laser wherein a small catheter delivers radiofrequency energy instead of laser energy directly into the vein wall. This causes the vein wall to heat up and collapse. The varicose veins disappear after a year. It is as effective as vein surgery and is less risky and less painful.

Effective Prevention of Spider Veins and Varicose Veins

Exercise: By getting plenty of exercise you can ward off spider veins and varicose veins. Exercise also helps to remove excess weight and keeps your weight under control. Another benefit is it that it keeps your leg muscles toned which enables blood to flow freely.

• Elevate your feet: If your job keeps you on your toes and on your feet it is best suggested that you stretch your leg muscles often. This will help to increase circulation.

• To avoid development of varicose veins, pregnant women should sleep on their left side rather than their back..