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What is the Best Spider Vein Treatment?
Spider veins are blue or red veins visible on the skin's surface. They are often shaped like spider webs and are commonly found on the ankles, thighs, legs, or face. People plagued with spider veins sometimes choose to undergo a spider vein treatment to eliminate them. The two most common forms of treatment for spider veins are sclerotherapy and laser treatment.
Sclerotherapy is a spider vein treatment that involves the injection of liquid into the spider veins in order to cause them to collapse. Hypertonic saline and sodium tetradecyl sulfate are the two most common substances injected into spider veins in order to eradicate them. After the procedure, the spider veins turns into scar tissue which gradually fade over time. The procedure is relatively painless and lasts between five minutes to one hour, depending on the number of veins requiring elimination.
After the procedure, the doctor will instruct the patient to wear compression hose or an elastic bandage for about three to ten days. Patients should avoid hot baths, alcohol, and exercise for two to three days following sclerotherapy. Up to six treatments may be necessary in order to successfully treat spider veins. Sclerotherapy is generally considered safe for most patients. Obese people, those with blood clots in deeper veins, people who are allergic to hypertonic saline and sodium tetradecyl sulfate, pregnant women, and patients with blocked blood flow in the artery near the spider vein should not undergo sclerotherapy.
Laser treatment is another spider vein treatment plastic surgeons use to eliminate spider veins from their patients. A laser is passed over the patient's spider veins, causing the veins to coagulate and shrink. This particular type of procedure may be more painful than sclerotherapy. The sensation is generally described as having a rubber band snapped against the skin.
After laser treatment, the spider veins appear darker, but as the weeks pass, they begin to fade. Usually about three treatments are required in order to successfully eliminate the veins. This particular spider vein treatment can cause temporary discoloration of the skin or scarring.
Several factors can cause spider veins. For example, those who do not engage in sufficient physical activity can sometimes have this problem. Weight gain, pregnancy, and standing for a long length of time may also contribute to spider veins. Elderly people and those with a family history of spider veins are candidates for these veins as well. In some cases, spider veins can be caused by certain medical conditions such as phlebitis (an inflammation of the veins), blood clots, and congenital vein abnormalities.
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![Spider veins are commonly found on the ankles and legs.]()
By: hrianaSpider veins are commonly found on the ankles and legs. -
![People should avoid taking hot baths following sclerotherapy.]()
By: Gennadiy PoznyakovPeople should avoid taking hot baths following sclerotherapy. -
![Laser treatment may be performed to eliminate spider veins.]()
By: CokaLaser treatment may be performed to eliminate spider veins. -
![People who do not engage in much physical activity may be at risk for developing spider veins.]()
By: Lisa F. YoungPeople who do not engage in much physical activity may be at risk for developing spider veins. -
![Elderly people have an increased chance of developing spider veins.]()
By: krutoevaElderly people have an increased chance of developing spider veins.
Discussion Comments
@turquoise-- One of my friends got rid of her spider veins with a detox program. She eliminated all the toxins from her body and also lost the excess weight she had. I'm not sure if this will work for everyone, but it's definitely possible. I agree with @ddljohn that regular exercise helps a lot as well. I exercise four to five days a week and I don't have any spider veins.
There are also herbal products like supplements and creams on the market which claim to get rid of spider veins. I have no idea if any of those work but I highly doubt it.
Since you are worried about the cost of spider vein treatments, why don't you try to eliminate them naturally with diet and exercise first? If that doesn't work, you can always have the laser treatment done. And this way you will prevent the condition from getting worse.
@turquoise-- I think how well the various treatments work depend on how bad the spider veins are.
As far as I know, sclerotherapy is best for deeper, widespread spider veins. But if the spider veins are fewer in number and not very deep, then laser treatments work well.
About the spider veins coming back, that's definitely a possibility. Neither sclerotherapy nor laser treatment for spider veins can guarantee that you won't develop more in the future. These treatments don't do anything about the cause of the veins, it just eliminates the ones you have now. To prevent more spider veins, you have to exercise regularly, eat healthy and so forth.
I used to never have spider veins before. But in the past couple of years, I gained some weight and did not exercise very much. I now have a couple of spider veins on both my calves.
Ever since I've noticed them, I've been so upset. I'm still fairly young and I don't like being conscious about the appearance of my legs. I've thought about having sclerotherapy but considering the cost and the number of spider veins I have, I'm not sure if it's worth it. What if I develop more spider veins soon after the treatment?
I'm not interested in laser treatment at all because I have a low pain tolerance and don't want any painful treatments.
Is there any other treatment for spider veins that costs less and which isn't painful? Are there any home remedies that work?
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