spider veins

spider veins

 Symptoms, causes and treatment of spider veins
Spider_Veins_inner_thigh_image.jpg What are spider veins?
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasia, are a group of dilated veins located just below the surface of the skin and most often found on the legs. Usually red or blue, they resemble spider webs or tree branches. Although smaller than varicose veins, spider veins share some common characteristics with varicose veins in terms of causes and symptoms.

While sometimes a cosmetic problem, more often than not, there is an underlying venous disease that is of greatest concern. These spider veins on the legs can sometimes be painful, burning, itching or, in the worst cases, rupture and cause bleeding. For these reasons it is always better to have a vein specialist diagnose varicose veins or spider veins in order to rule out these larger issues. Insurance will typically cover the treatment if you have burning spider veins if they affect your activities of daily living.



Symptoms of the spider vein
Spider veins are easily recognizable by their "web-like" or "tree branch" appearance and sometimes do not cause pain, however, the following symptoms often also occur:

Sore legs
Painful legs
Burning or itching
Swollen legs
Eruption
Bleeding veins
Ulcers on the skin
Spider Veins Close Up Image
Spider veins cause
Spider veins and varicose veins have similar causes. Normal veins have unidirectional valves that prevent blood from flowing in reverse as your body pumps blood to the heart. When these valves stop working properly, blood is allowed to accumulate, or accumulate, and the vein swells.

The following are the most common causes of spider veins:

Aging - As we age, the veins weaken due to the loss of elasticity.
Pregnancy - In order to support a growing fetus, the volume of blood in the body increases during pregnancy, but the blood flow from the legs to the pelvis decreases.
Inheritance - Family history of varicose veins or spider veins.
Standing or sitting for long periods - Blood does not flow well without body activity.
Obesity - The extra weight puts extra pressure on the veins in the legs.
History of blood clots
Use of contraceptive pills



Treatment of the spider vein
The procedure for treating the spider vein causes minimal pain (if any) and has a quick recovery time. The method we use at Arizona's Advanced Vein Institute is:

Liquid sclerotherapy and compression (chemical injection) - Sclerotherapy can be used to treat smaller veins. This can be an effective procedure depending on time and cost, but sometimes it requires several sessions for a complete and successful elimination. Occasionally the treatment of the spider vein is done with the guidance of the ultrasound.
Cost of sclerotherapy - The cost of sclerotherapy is based on how many syringes are needed. Normally, patients do not need more than two syringes to treat a considerable amount of spider veins. Also, if this is medically related, your insurance will cover the treatment.


schlerotherapy needle image


Next steps

Now you know what causes spider veins and we believe that the situation of each patient is unique, and each varicose and spider vein treatment must be adapted specifically for each patient. In addition, varicose veins and spider veins must be completely diagnosed to rule out any larger, more complex issue such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) or venous reflux disease. We perform a duplex examination and ultrasound so that we can diagnose and recommend the best treatment for spider veins