subject: How To Get Rid Of Spider Veins - General Information [print this page] Many women have those embarrassing purple, blue, or red squiggly lines running down their legs. They are called spider veins, and they often make women feel self-conscious about exposing their legs. These unsightly marks often show up during pregnancy, when there is a tremendous shift in hormones. But no one is immune really, and even men can get them.
Spider veins gained their name because of their shape. The lines that appear just under the skin of the thigh, calf, or other part of your leg can often look like a spiders web. Some people also refer to them as starbursts because they usually generate from a single point and branch out.
These marks may go by different names, but they are caused by the same things--abnormal blood flow and a weakening of the blood vessels themselves. They often appear when these blood vessels are put under pressure by prolonged standing or sitting or when people gain a lot of weight, like during pregnancy.
The most common reason why people have these lines removed is to improve the appearance of their legs, but it can also help medical conditions, such as night cramps or restless legs.
Treatment
The most popular treatment is called sclerotherapy, an outpatient procedure in which a solution called sclerosant is injected. This solution collapses the veins and hides them from sight. Not only can sclerotherapy make the legs look better, it can also help get rid of those troubling problems associated with them.
In all, the procedure can take up to 30 minutes, depending on how much work has to be done. Some patients experience some pain, or a burning or cramping for a short time after the solution is injected but the discomfort is manageable.
Some physicians may choose to treat spider veins with lasers. With this procedure, the intense light from the laser passes through the skin and onto the spider veins, erasing them from sight permanently. This is a good option when the spider veins are too small to be treated with an injection.
Risks
Any medical procedure is bound to have some risk associated with it, but spider vein therapy is considered a safe treatment. Thats not to say complications dont arise, because they do. One of the more common side effects is blotchy or discolored skin, although its temporary. Much more uncommon are the new veins that appear in the area that was treated, or sclerotherapy causing vein inflammation or blood clots. Some people have had adverse reactions to the solution they are injected with.
If any of these risks are causing you concern, talk with your doctor about them. And make sure to strictly follow the instructions your doctor gives you for before and after this procedure. That way, you can reduce your chance of these complications from arising.
