Visible vein lines can do more than simply mar your skin. They can also create increasing physical problems as they increase in size and number throughout your body. Visible veins can usually be placed into one of two categories. The smallest ones that cause the fewest physical problems are called spider veins. These form web-like patterns of tiny blue, purple or red lines. The larger visible veins are often called varicose veins. Not only are they wider and darker, but also they protrude further from your skin and form bumpy, twisted patterns. Varicose veins are the more uncomfortable venous issue that can cause numerous physical problems if not dealt with swiftly. Sclerotherapy can help.
All visible veins typically form from chronic venous insufficiency, a problem that occurs when the valves within the veins weaken and do not close sufficiently. When they do not work well, blood begins to pool, pushing the veins wider and making them more visible at the surface of the skin.
With our sclerotherapy treatments, we can attack both spider veins and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is effective on veins that are very narrow as well as veins that are up to 3 millimeters wide. A majority of problematic veins fall into the right categories for treatment.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment option that uses a narrow needle injected into the main problematic vein. Once the needle is in the correct location, we inject a very strong saline solution into it. The solution irritates the venous walls, causing them to swell and send the blood into nearby veins instead. The problematic vein dies and is reabsorbed by the body. Because the reabsorption occurs gradually, you will notice the vein decreasing in size, color and visibility over the next few months. You may need two treatments for the best results, especially for larger veins.
This treatment is quite simple and easy to undergo, especially when compared with other problem vein treatments from past decades. With sclerotherapy, you do not have to undergo surgery, and you do not have to worry about a lengthy recovery time. We will only need to use a bit of local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. As soon as your appointment is complete, you will immediately be able to return to your usual daily activities.
We encourage you to seek out sclerotherapy treatments in our office if you are troubled by unsightly or uncomfortable visible vein lines on your legs or elsewhere on your body. Call us today at Worcester Dermatology to set up your appointment.