Noncosmetic Reasons to Get Rid of Your Spider Veins
Author: StrideCare Internal Team
You’ve had spider veins on your legs for years. Yes, you’re tired of looking at them. Yes, you’d love to get rid of them. But you always saw potential treatment options as a vanity thing and convinced yourself that it’s not worth doing anything about your situation. Besides, you’ve learned to camouflage them with long pants and strategically worn garments that show a little skin but not any of the embarrassing spider veins. We get it and applaud you for living your life stress-free. But we’re also here to tell you that getting rid of spider veins for good isn’t just a vanity thing. There are plenty of non-cosmetic reasons to get rid of them for good.
Our team of vascular professionals at StrideCare are experts at diagnosing and treating a variety of vascular conditions. This includes people with unsightly spider veins who aren’t in any pain but simply want to live their life without having to hide all or part of their legs. And the good news is that spider vein treatment is fast, easy, and minimally invasive with no scarring.
How Do I Know if I Have Spider Veins?
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasia, are red, blue, or purple web-like lines and patterns on the most superficial layer of your skin. They are not painful, though they can become more visible over time and may feel itchy. Often, they can be found on your legs and feet. But they can also appear on your cheek and nose areas.
Spider veins affect nearly half of women in the United States. They can be caused by several risk factors, including:
- Heredity — Statistics show that roughly half of all varicose vein and spider vein patients have a family history. So, if your mother or grandmother had spider veins, the odds are higher that you are predisposed.
- Pregnancy — Being pregnant and hormonal changes increase blood volume and stress on vein walls and valves.
- Jobs — Many people with spider veins and varicose veins have jobs that require them to stand or sit for long stretches, which inhibits blood circulation. This includes CPAs, waiters, retail workers, assembly line workers, etc.
- Lifestyle habits — Obesity increases pressure on your veins. Eating high-fat foods and those with a lot of salt also increases the odds of venous insufficiency.
Spider veins are easy to diagnose because they are a significantly smaller and less impactful vein issue in comparison to varicose veins. Varicose veins are twisted, bulging veins that can be seen and felt under the skin and have been known to alter a person’s quality of life. These impact roughly 25% of men and women in the United States and are a different condition altogether.
With that said, spider veins can also cause uncomfortable symptoms like itchiness, irritated skin, pain in the area where the spider veins are located, and even burning sensations. If you notice the appearance of more spider veins over time, you can suffer additional discomfort such as numbness and tingling. This can be difficult to live with.
8 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Spider Veins
A few ways you can reduce or prevent spider veins include:
- Getting more exercise
- Choosing healthier eating habits
- Limit sun exposure and use sunscreen
- Quit smoking and drinking in excess
- Avoid standing or sitting for too long
- Avoiding high heels and tight clothing
- Keep your legs elevated
- Wear compression socks
If spider veins continue to bother you, or if they worsen, it’s essential to consider treatment. Minimally invasive procedures are now available to treat vein disease instead of older, more invasive surgeries. Technological advancements in medicine enable us to offer non-surgical treatments to patients experiencing vein disease symptoms. By receiving one of our non-invasive treatments, you can reap the benefits of:
- Coverage – Our leg vein treatments are covered by most major health insurance, including Medicare. Our team of dedicated insurance specialists can assist with determining your insurance coverage, making it easier for you to access the care you need.
- Low Risk – These treatments pose a lower risk than surgery as they do not require general anesthesia, are minimally invasive resulting in little to no scarring, and carry a low risk of postoperative infection.
- Convenience – Our outpatient treatments offer convenience as you can go home on the same day without taking significant time off from work. Procedures take less than an hour, making it easy to fit vein care into your busy schedule.
Do Sclerotherapy Injections Help Spider Veins?
Sclerotherapy is the go-to treatment for small veins with a diameter of less than 1 millimeter. It is a safe, FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure that is commonly used for spider veins or varicose veins in the legs.
During the treatment, your doctor will use ultrasound guidance to pinpoint the affected vein and inject a sterile solution. This solution will irritate the inner lining of the vein, making it swell and eventually close. The surrounding healthy veins will take over the blood supply to the area, and the treated vein will be absorbed by the body.
Sclerotherapy is an effective and affordable option compared to laser therapy and takes only a few minutes to complete. You may experience a mild warmth or burning sensation during the injection and bruising for up to a week after the procedure.
For your comfort, your treated areas will be wrapped in a bandage. Although you will need to wear compression stockings for a few days after the treatment, you can resume your normal routine immediately. Several sessions may be needed to achieve a permanent result.
StrideCare Can Help With Your Spider Veins
We see patients all the time who are either uncomfortable with how their legs look as a result of their spider veins or need treatment due to ongoing uncomfortable symptoms. If left unchecked, your spider veins could grow in numbers and cause more symptoms.
If your veins need treatment—or you have questions on how to avoid the onset of venous disease—the experts at StrideCare will recommend an individualized plan to help you get the best results. Request an appointment for a vein disease evaluation to discuss your options.
StrideCare has long been a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat vein disease and symptoms that, while minor in their earliest stages, can eventually lead to more serious and life interrupting issues. This includes spider veins, as well as varicose vein treatment, venous insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, May-Thurner Syndrome, and more—all the while providing compassionate patient care.
Prior to starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
StrideCare serves the South Texas area including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Round Rock, Bastrop, Brushy Creek, Cedar Park, Converse, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, Leander, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Pasadena, Pearland, Pflugerville, San Marcos, Schertz, Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Webster, Bay City, Clear Lake, Lake Jackson, The Woodlands, Universal City, Spring, Kingwood, Stafford, Conroe, Texas City, Cypress, League City, Bellaire, and more.
