Although some surgical treatments can be effective for larger varicose veins, doctors usually do not perform them on spider veins. The reason for this is that spider veins are small, so they often respond well to the less invasive treatments above. Certain lifestyle changes and self-care tips can help prevent new spider veins appearing or stop existing ones from getting worse. These include:. Spider veins result from damaged veins or burst blood vessels. They are typically painless and do not cause health problems, but some people may wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons.
A variety of treatment options can help improve the appearance of spider veins or remove them altogether. For medical procedures, it is always essential to consult a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in dermatology, vein care, or cosmetic or plastic surgery. Varicose veins affect around 20 percent of the population. In some people, they may be very uncomfortable and even painful. In this article, we look…. Witch hazel has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, so many people use it at home for common complaints, such as acne or varicose veins….
Doctors often recommend compression stockings to improve circulation, prevent varicose veins from becoming worse, and reduce pain and discomfort. Broken blood vessels or spider veins are enlarged blood vessels under the skin. They can occur anywhere but can appear on the face for a variety of….
Learn all about sclerotherapy, a procedure most commonly used to treat varicose veins or spider veins and some other conditions. It involves injecting…. Treatment and prevention of spider veins. Causes Spider veins vs. This stops the flow of blood, and the vein turns into scar tissue.
Your doctor or nurse may suggest that you wear gradient compression stockings after sclerotherapy to help with healing. In a few weeks, the vein should fade. You may need multiple treatments for it to work. There is also a chance that varicose veins or spider veins may come back. Closure system. This system works only for veins just beneath the skin's surface. Deeper veins are not treatable with this option.
The system closes the vein permanently using a type of adhesive sticky material injected into the vein. After the treatment, healthy veins around the closed vein take over the normal flow of blood. Percutaneous skin surface laser treatments. Laser treatments can treat spider veins and varicose veins that are smaller than 3 millimeters in diameter about a 10th of an inch.
This procedure sends very strong bursts of light through the skin onto the vein. This makes the vein slowly fade and disappear. You may need several treatments to close spider veins in the legs. There is a chance that varicose veins or spider veins may come back.
Endovenous thermal therapy laser and radiofrequency ablation. This procedure treats the larger bulging surface veins of the legs. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a small tube into the vein.
The doctor places a small probe through the tube. A device at the tip of the probe heats up the inside of the vein and closes it off. The device uses radio waves or laser energy to seal the vein permanently. Healthy veins around the sealed vein take over the normal flow of blood.
What types of surgery treat varicose veins? Types of surgery for varicose veins include: Ambulatory phlebectomy. This surgery removes varicose veins that are just beneath the skin's surface. The doctor makes tiny cuts in the skin and uses hooks to pull the vein out of the leg. The doctor usually removes the vein in one treatment and leaves only tiny scars. Many people can return to normal activity the day after treatment. Healthy veins will then take over the normal flow of blood. Surgical ligation and stripping.
This surgery is for larger varicose veins. With this treatment, problem veins are tied shut and completely removed from the leg through small cuts in the skin.
Recovery can take up to a month. Healthy veins take over the normal flow of blood. Does insurance cover varicose veins and spider veins treatment?
If you have insurance, check with your insurance provider to find out what's included in your plan. If you have Medicare, find out about Medicare coverage for varicose veins. If you have Medicaid, the benefits covered are different in each state, but certain benefits must be covered. Check with your state's Medicaid program to find out what's covered. If you need health insurance, check to see if you are eligible.
What can happen if varicose veins and spider veins are not treated? Sometimes, varicose veins can lead to more serious health problems, including: Sores or skin ulcers caused by long-term collection of blood in the veins. These sores or ulcers are painful and difficult to heal. You may need special care to treat these sores or ulcers. Bleeding from damage to the vein. The skin over varicose veins can become thin and easily hurt.
Any injury to the vein can cause bleeding. Superficial thrombophlebitis , or blood clots that form in veins just below the skin. These types of blood clots can cause skin redness; a firm, tender, warm vein; and pain and swelling. Deep vein thrombosis DVT , or blood clots in veins that are deeper under the skin.
You may not have any signs or symptoms of DVT, or the blood clot may cause pain, swelling, warmth, and a "pulling" feeling in the calf. Sitting still for a long time, such as when you are traveling more than 8 hours, may increase your risk of a blood clot. The blood clot can then break off and travel to the lungs. It can cause a blockage in the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism, that makes it difficult to breathe, speeds up your heartbeat, and causes chest pain.
It can also lead to death. You can help prevent blood clots during long airplane flights, for example, by wearing compression stockings , staying hydrated, and moving around regularly.
How can I prevent varicose veins and spider veins? In a small number of people fewer than five per cent , the brown lines may last up to a year or longer.
It is best not to take iron supplements while receiving sclerotherapy, as brown lines are caused by the iron content of the red blood cells. Laser therapy can treat stubborn lines or spots, although this treatment cannot be guaranteed to work lumps — may occur in larger injected veins. They will either be removed a few weeks after the injection or will clear by themselves swelling — may occur in people who have had large veins treated.
To prevent swelling, it is best to wear compression stockings after the treatment matting — a network of fine blood vessels can develop after sclerotherapy. This can be due to a number of reasons including lack of compression, inadequate compression, hormonal supplements, vitamin E supplements, use of anti-bruising creams or creams containing vitamin E, and inadequate treatment of underlying veins.
Matting may resolve spontaneously but this may take a year or longer. It can also be treated using special injection techniques ulcers large sores — these may form at the site of the injection. They can occur immediately after injection or a few days later. They are rare, but can be painful and usually leave scars after they heal inflammation phlebitis and blood clots — can affect the treated large veins allergy to the irritant solution irritation to veins other than the intended varicose vein accidental injection of irritant solution into an artery, causing tissue damage.
Inflammation phlebitis and blood clots can occur after sclerotherapy if: no compression has been applied the applied compression has not been enough you are on the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy you have an underlying tendency to clotting the treatment has been performed just after long-distance travel or a major operation the underlying source of leakage in the vein has not been treated adequately the inflammation extends to the deep veins, causing deep vein thrombosis DVT.
DVT is a rare but serious complication of sclerotherapy. It can extend to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism clots in the lungs and even death it is recommended that women stop all hormonal supplements before sclerotherapy check with your doctor. Surgery for varicose veins Major surface veins long or short saphenous veins that are varicose are usually treated surgically. Generally, a surgeon makes numerous small incisions cuts to reach the vein, rather than one large cut.
Depending on the location of the varicose vein, these incisions may, for example, be in the groin or behind the knee. Surgical techniques include: ligation and stripping — the surgeon cuts and ties off the vein this is called ligation. Stripping the vein involves inserting a slender instrument into the vein through a small incision. The vein is then pulled out through a second incision phlebectomy — the surgeon makes small incisions, then removes the veins with a special hook.
Medical issues before varicose vein surgery Doctors use a number of tests to decide which type of surgery is best for you. These tests include a physical examination and an ultrasound scan. You need to discuss a range of issues with your doctor or surgeon including: your medical history, since some pre-existing conditions may influence decisions about surgery and anaesthetic any medications you take on a regular basis, including over-the-counter preparations any bad reactions or side effects you have experienced from any medications whether or not you are pregnant.
Varicose vein surgery is generally not advised for women during pregnancy. Immediately after varicose vein surgery After a varicose vein operation, you can expect: firm bandaging on your legs, to reduce bruising pain-relieving medication being encouraged to walk around a hospital stay of one or two days. Side effects of varicose vein surgery Some of the common side effects of varicose vein surgery include: swelling, which may take a few weeks to disappear.
This is most likely on the feet and ankles scarring, although scars tend to be less noticeable than the varicose veins were. These patches may recover in time up to two years in some cases or they may be permanent. Complications of varicose vein surgery Varicose vein surgery is considered to be safe, but all surgery has some degree of risk. Possible complications may include: infection, particularly if you had skin ulcers blood clots forming within deep veins bleeding or bruising.
Self-care at home after varicose vein surgery Be guided by your doctor, but general self-care suggestions include: Allow for one or perhaps two weeks off work following surgery. Elevation of the legs. You may be instructed to elevate your feet above the level of your heart 3 or 4 times a day for about 15 minutes at a time. If you need to sit or stand for a long period of time, flexing bending your legs occasionally can help keep blood circulating.
If you have mild to moderate varicose veins, elevating your legs can help reduce leg swelling and relieve other symptoms. Compression stockings. These elastic stockings squeeze the veins and prevent blood from pooling. Compression stockings can be effective if they are worn every day. Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for both spider and varicose veins.
A salt saline or chemical solution is injected into the varicose veins. They no longer carry blood. And, other veins take over. Thermal ablation. Lasers or radiofrequency energy may be used to treat varicose veins.
A tiny fiber is inserted into a varicose vein through a catheter. The laser or radiofrequency energy is used to deliver heat that destroys the wall of the varicose vein. Special tools inserted through small cuts incisions are used to remove varicose veins.
It may be done alone or with vein stripping. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What are spider veins?
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