from the Spring 1999 issue
Many great-looking legs fall prey to unsightly spider veins. These small reddish, purplish, or bluish veins cause many women to avoid wearing shorts or skirts because of their legs' roadmap appearance. Factors responsible for the tendency to develop leg veins include genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors, primarily jobs that involve prolonged standing or sitting. Spider veins are not caused by crossing the legs while sitting.
There are two main treatment options for spider veins. One is the tried-and-true method of sclerotherapy. The newer method is laser. We use a combination of both sclerotherapy and laser to successfully eradicate spider veins. The very smallest spider veins, the tiny red ones called telangiectasia, are best treated with sclerotherapy. The larger telangiectasia and the bluish-green feeder veins are most effectively treated with laser. Because most people have both types, the combination of methods works better than either method alone. The average patient requires several sessions, spaced one month apart, to treat all the veins.
In sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected into the vein to irritate the cells lining the vein and make the cells die, causing the whole vein to shrink and go away. A variety of chemical solutions can be used for sclerotherapy, but we prefer hypertonic saline (a concentrated saltwater solution) because it works well. There is also a lower risk of an allergic reaction than with the other solutions. The saline is injected into the spider veins through a very small needle, then cotton balls are taped over the injection sites, and compression stockings are applied. Ideally, the stockings should be worn daily for at least a week after the procedure. It is important to walk after the procedure to help prevent blood clots from forming. Risks of the procedure include bruising, pigmentation (brown) spots, skin ulcers, blood clots, and allergic reactions, but fortunately, the more serious side effects are rare.
Lasers use light energy, which is absorbed by the hemoglobin in blood. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the cells lining the vein to the point that the vein shrinks up and goes away. Basically, the process, called photothermolysis, cooks the vein from the inside, destroying it.
During a laser treatment, a cool gel is applied to the skin overlying the
vein to be treated. The patient feels a quick, hot sensation that some people describe as feeling like a rubber band popping on the skin. It does hurt a little, but the sensation goes away quickly. An anesthetic cream can be applied one hour prior to the treatment to reduce the discomfort of the procedure.
For more information on the causes and prevention of spider veins, please call 713.850.0240.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |