‘Spider veins’ in medical language is known as Telangiectasias. These are minute, dilated blood vessels, which appear on human skin surface. They are blue or red in color. Moreover, spider veins are itchy, painful and possibly bleed.
How are spider vein caused?
Spider veins generally occur when there is a rise in pressure from deeper veins on the layer of veins near the skin. Deeper veins are located in reticular dermis or deep system.
Treatment options for spider veins
In the last decade, spider veins treatment has improved greatly. Treatment options include-
- Sclerotherapy
- Laser
- IPL or Intense pulsed Light
- Surgical techniques
- Ohmic thermolysis
- Combination of above treatments
During the first appointment, the doctor will check your legs and conduct an ultra sound (US).
Ultra sound is a non-invasive examination, which creates images using sound waves. Doctor gets detailed information about the venous system. It displays blood flow and demonstrates the place where reflux occurs. Doctor can easily detect, where the veins are leaking, thus rule out other grave vein conditions.
The vein specialists at Laser Vein Removal Beverly Hills facility make use of light sources to identify reticular veins easily. In addition –
- Locate Feeder veins
- Show vein condition to patients
- Explain foam Sclerosant condition in real time
- Map the veins for Phlebectomy
- Highlight veins during laser therapy
Sclerotherapy
The problem vein is injected with Sclerosant (a chemical solution). This technique is painless and can be performed without anesthesia. The blood vessels close, due to the chemical solution and eventually disappear. This is the best method to treat spider veins and certain kinds of varicose veins.
How Sclerotherapy works?
Two kinds of Sclerosant are used – foam and liquid. Foam is caused by blending the chemical solution with carbon dioxide or air. When the Sclerosant is introduced in the dilated blood vessel, it causes inflammation. The vein walls stick together, thus holding blood becomes impossible and scars up. Eventually, it gets reabsorbed in the blood.
Laser treatment
Lasers treatments are speedy. They cause heat damage to vessel lining and diminish the veins. Blending of Sclerotherapy and heat offers rapid resolution for best cosmetic results.
Ohmic thermolysis
This is the most advanced spider vein treatment. Ohmic thermolysis is used, when spider vein treatment is not possible with Sclerotherapy. In this technique, a small needle that produces heat is inserted within the dilated vein. Heat produced makes the vein wall lining to fuse without causing any damage to the surrounding skin. There are hardly any complications, but the tracts visible in the initials stages will ultimately disappear.
IPL or Intense Pulsed Light therapy
This procedure is good for small veins and people with fair skin. Spectrum of light is shined using an IPL device. Blood vessel walls get damaged and shrink. The area will turn red but fade in 2 to 6 weeks and eventually disappear.
Surgical chemical ablative techniques
SCAT is a technique that is helpful to treat large spider veins. After Sclerotherapy, the treated veins area is numbed. The veins are separated using micro puncture technique. Thus rapid resolution for spider varicosities is obtained with minimal staining.
