Spider Veins Treatment

While spider veins and varicose veins are often lumped together in conversations, they are very different. Spider veins are small, web-like veins that become visible, usually on the face or legs. Varicose veins are bigger and more painful. Spider veins may not hurt at all. Most of the time, removing them is considered a cosmetic procedure, but there can be medical reasons for the spider veins treatment. Call on the vein experts at the Vein Care Center in NYC and NJ. Only an experienced vein doctor like Dr. Jonathan Arad can resolve the leg pain from spider veins. Call today for a consultation.

What Are Spider Veins?

As the name suggests, spider veins are delicate veins that take the form of a spider web. These veins are usually red, but sometimes they can appear purple. Spider veins are medically harmless in that they don’t pose any physical restrictions or pain.

But spider veins may be a symptom of a deeper medical condition, such as an autoimmune disease. Spider veins can get worse and need to be treated. As they most often appear on the face or legs, you may suffer from depression or low self-esteem because they affect overall appearance. Due to this reason, you may choose to have them treated with a cosmetic procedure.

Dr. Jonathan Arad and his team of top vein specialists are nearby at the Vein Care Center in New York City in the Financial District, Greenwich Village, Midtown Manhattan, and Upper East Side, and in New Jersey in Morris County, Bergen County and Union County. They use their expertise and the latest medical technology to resolve your leg vein pain, varicose veins, spider veins and other vein conditions.

What’s the Difference between Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

Although rooted in a common medical condition called venous insufficiency, spider veins and varicose veins are inherently different, with different symptoms and consequences. Venous insufficiency refers to a condition in which an insufficient blood supply returns to the heart and lungs due to weakened veins or the valves that are inside those veins.

As a result, these veins build up pressure and become more visible on the surface of your skin, where they can take the shape of spider webs. While spider veins are usually painless or result in only a slight discomfort, varicose veins are much larger and can cause a variety of symptoms, such as:

• A bulging vein that’s blue or purple
• An aching pain wherever they appear
• A constant irritation in your leg near the vein
• Swelling in your ankles
• Heaviness in your extremities, such as your legs

Read more: Spider Veins and Varicose Veins: What’s the Difference?

What Are the Leading Causes of Spider Veins?

Venous insufficiency may result from blood clots that occurred in the past that are obstructing the blood flow to the heart. But the exact cause of spider veins isn’t known. There are a number of suspected causes or risk factors, including:

• Female hormones, especially during pregnancy or menstrual cycle
• Birth control medicine or pills
• A family history of vein problems, such as spider veins
• Too much sunlight on unprotected facial skin
• A bad case of rosacea, a skin disease
• The repeated use of steroid creams on your skin
• Obesity, which puts extra pressure on your circulatory system

Spider veins are fairly common, but there are widespread misconceptions regarding whom they strike. These misconceptions include:

• Spider veins happen only to older people. This isn’t true. People at 20 or 30 years of age can also have spider veins. However, it may be common that these younger adults may be unaware of the condition.
• Spider veins happen only to women. Although the condition is more prevalent in women, spider veins can also affect men.
• Veins have to be seen with the naked eye to be diagnosed. Many spider veins can’t be seen with the naked eye. Your dermatologist or vein specialist may find them during an ultrasound diagnostic test. If you feel any itching or burning on your skin, visit the Vein Care Center.

"You must do what they ask to get perfect results. The staff was amazing too, very professional and gentle. Highly recommend!

Monica S.

How Are Spider Veins Treated?

Spider veins can be temporarily cured with the help of compression stockings, which puts pressure on the lower leg to improve the blood flow to the heart and lungs. Also, these socks reduce any swelling and provide comfort. But the condition returns once you stop wearing the socks.

Other forms of treatment ensure permanent relief of the irritation in your legs or face from spider veins. Spider veins treatments include:

• Sclerotherapy for spider veins. This outpatient procedure involves injecting a chemical directly into the problem vein, which causes it to shrink and dissolve, forcing the blood to find a nearby healthy vein, improving the blood flow.
• Laser treatment for spider veins. In this non-invasive laser treatment, the heat of a laser is focused on the vein, which dries it up. The vein eventually disappears, and the blood finds an alternate vein to flow freely.

Learn More: Circulation and Spider Veins: Are Spider Veins a Sign of Poor Circulation?