Spider veins are tiny veins and appear as thin, red lines on the surface of the skin. Mostly found in the legs and feet, spider veins are web-like networks of blood vessels. Spider veins can occur along with varicose veins and is a common leg disease in the elderly people.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins in the leg are caused by unhealthy valves inside feeder veins, allowing blood to flow backwards instead of flowing toward the heart. Some of this backed-up blood can lead to non-functional, dead end veins that appear as spider web like mesh.
Other factors such as age, heredity, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy can also increase your risk of having spider veins, so it is important to take preventative measures.
Preventing Spider Veins
Some steps you can take to prevent spider veins from occurring include:
- Wearing sunscreen regularly
- Exercising consistently and maintaining a healthy weight, which can help reduce pressure put on the veins in your legs
- Taking breaks from either sitting or standing for long periods
- Limiting the amount of time you wear high heels, or shoes with steep inclines
What Are the Symptoms of Spider Veins?
Aside from their discolored nature, spider veins on legs may also cause symptoms including aching, burning sensations, or itchiness. Though generally considered harmless, spider vein symptoms may cause discomfort, especially after an extended period of standing.
Many people find that the cosmetic impact of spider veins causes feelings of self-consciousness, promoting changes in lifestyle and clothing choice. Prompt treatment at the sight of spider veins can help improve appearance and ensure that symptoms do not worsen over time.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Spider Veins
At Vein & Leg Clinic, we take care of providing quick relief from discomfort or pain due to spider veins as well as their cosmetic improvement. Our non-surgical procedures don’t require any hospitalization. Typical procedures include:
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS): UGS procedure is done by using an ultrasound machine to minutely visualize the spider veins and by injecting a liquid agent (i.e. FDA approved Sotrodectol) through a tiny needle directly into the veins causing them to contract and collapse.
Depending on the condition of the spider veins in the legs, our vascular specialists decide the best minimally-invasive treatment option. Typically, procedures can take little more than an hour and patients recover within a few hours.
Schedule a Consultation in Silver Spring, MD
Vein & Leg Clinic offers a thorough checkup and comprehensive treatment plan for spider veins and swelling at our office in Silver Spring, MD. Phlebologist Rajeev Batra, MD is board-certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and has extensive experience treating spider veins. Call (301) 593-9612 to schedule an immediate appointment. We’re accepting new patients.
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