Spider Veins
What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins, or Telangiectasias, are a common cosmetic concern for both men and women, but can cause physical symptoms as well.. Although they are visually unappealing, they should also be properly assessed by a vein professional in order to determine if there are underlying vascular conditions that may be causing the veins to develop.
Spider veins are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin that are caused when the valves in the blood vessels cannot keep the blood from flowing backward. Blood then begins to collect and expand the vein so that it becomes visible under the skin.
Spider veins almost never cause pain, and if they are asymptomatic, they do not require a venous ultrasound test. However, symptomatic spider veins can occasionally be associated with disorders of the larger leg veins that do require treatment. Identification and treatment of these conditions can help prevent these vessels from redeveloping over time. Treatment for spider veins may be ineffective, or recurrence may occur faster if the underlying issue is not treated first. After treatment of the underlying problem, the remaining spider veins may be treated with sclerotherapy or laser treatment to disappear or be less noticeable.
How are Spider Veins Treated?
Spider veins are treated by injection or laser therapy and primarily for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, treatment is not a covered insurance benefit.
- Conventional Sclerotherapy – A medical solution that is injected directly into affected veins
- Foam Sclerotherapy – The solution is turned into a foamy, cream-like consistency, where it can be detected on ultrasound technology
- Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy – Utilizes advanced ultrasound technology to detect underlying veins and monitor the safe and effective injections of the sclerotherapy solution.