Spider Veins Treatment, Removal and Prevention

Though one can get spider veins as a result of inherited genes, most of the other causes point to unhealthy lifestyles. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will go a long way in preventing them. Since treatment of existing spider veins is not a guarantee that they will not recur, it is important to take care to avoid getting them after undergoing treatment.

Best Spider Vein Treatment – How to Treat, Laser, Sclerotherapy & Natural Treatments

Spider veins can make one self-conscious.  To get back a natural skin, there are various treatment options to choose from. The method you pick should be determined by how severe they are and how much you are willing to spend. A diagnosis done by a doctor will tell how developed they are. This should help in choosing among the various procedures available.

Treatment for any health condition is aimed at relieving the symptoms, alleviating pain, preventing complications and improving appearance if the condition had affected it. These goals also apply when it comes to treatment for spider veins.

As indicated earlier, the spider veins treatment used is determined by how severe or mild they are. Where they are too mild, making a lifestyle change would be enough to treat them. If they develop too much and the symptoms are severe, medical procedures may be required.

Use of Compression Stockings

Compression stockings may be recommended by a doctor as a spider veins treatment. They apply just enough pressure on the legs to help blood move in the right direction. This prevents blood from pooling.

The type of compression stockings should be determined by the amount of pressure supposed to be applied on the legs. Support pantyhose are the most gentle and offer the least pressure.

Over the counter compression hoses give a little more pressure than support pantyhose while prescription strength compression hoses apply the most pressure. Compression stockings are found in medical supply stores. Fitting should be done by a person who is trained in doing so to ensure they are the right ones for the purpose.

Lifestyle Change:

This form of treatment for spider veins includes adopting healthy lifestyle tendencies. A lifestyle change prevents the spider veins from developing to serious conditions. It also prevents formation of new ones. Among the things that one should do include:

• Adopting proper dressing habits. Clothes that are tight especially around the waist, upper thighs and legs should be avoided because they interfere with the flow of blood. When this happens, the veins become weak and this could make the spider veins worsen. Avoiding this kind of dressing will improve circulation.
• Sitting or standing for long periods should be avoided. Where one has to, take breaks in between. While sitting, ensure you do not cross your legs. Where possible, raise your legs when sitting or sleeping.
• Regular physical exercises should be adopted. While at it, ensure that leg toning exercises are prioritized. This will help improve blood circulation in the legs.
• Being overweight strains the veins. To ease the pressure, lose some and maintain the recommended weight.
• High heels should be avoided. Wear low heeled shoes to help to calf muscles

These healthy habits serve as great ways on how to treat spider veins.

Medical procedures:

Medical procedures are mostly adopted as a form of spider veins treatment where they are severe. The processes either remove or close up the affected veins. More than one procedure may be used.

Once the process is done, there is a likelihood of side effects such as discoloring of the skin, scarring swelling and slight pain.

Sclerotherapy

This method is used to treat small spider veins. It involves injection of a liquid chemical into the vein. This leads to the scarring and irritation of the vein which leads to its closing up. With time it fades away.

After treatment elastic bandaging may be done to prevent swelling and hasten healing.  Since a number of sessions may be required to completely shut up the veins, treatment is repeated every four to six weeks for perfect results.

Laser Surgery spider Veins Treatment

Light energy is directed into the spider veins.  This makes them to collapse. It does not involve any injections or chemicals.

Endovenous Ablation Therapy for Spider Vein Treatment

This method uses radio waves to close off spider veins. The procedure involves a tiny cut being made on the surface of the skin near the spider veins. A small tube is then inserted to heat up the vein. This heat causes it to close up.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

This procedure involves small cuts being made on the skin through which the spider veins are removed. It is best suited for spider veins located close to the skin’s surface.

Vein Stripping and Ligation

Where the spider veins are severe, vein stripping and litigation may be necessary. This involves tying, shutting and then removing them through small incisions on the skin.

Natural Spider Vein Treatment

There are a number of natural treatments for spider veins you can use at home. These include:

1. Butchers Broom: This is known to smoothen the vein muscles by constricting previously dilated veins making spider veins to disappear
2. Gotu kola: This is taken to improve circulation
3. Apple cider vinegar: Used as a cold compress on the affected area
4. Horse chestnut:  It strengthens the veins and improves circulation
5. Witch hazel: Apply it on the affected area using a cotton ball
6. Ginkgo biloba:  When taken, it strengthens vein walls by improving tissue oxygenation thus improving circulation

Spider Veins Laser Treatment

When it comes to how to treat spider veins, this method falls on the medical procedures category. It involves a thermo-contraction of the vein walls. This is performed on the entire vein leading to a complete shut off of the vein.

Sclerotherapy for Spider Treatment

This form of treatment requires a doctor to inject some chemicals into the patient’s affected veins. The chemical makes the spider veins to close up. With time they disappear.

Sclerotherapy and laser treatment fall under the medical procedures that can be adopted for the treatment of spider veins. See more on other medical procedures for spider veins treatment.

Spider Vein Creams

Spider vein creams are most preferred for treatment of spider veins on the face. This is because some medical procedures may cause temporary scarring and are thus most suitable for the legs.

Vitamin K creams when applied in sufficient concentrations can penetrate the skin to help improve blood circulation. Consistent application of generous amounts makes them collapse with time.
Best Treatment for Spider Veins

Spider veins should not be let to develop to severe cases. They should be given due attention as soon as they appear.  When making a choice on how to treat spider veins treatment, Sclerotherapy and laser treatment should be considered. Though expensive, they are the best treatments for spider vein treatment especially in their initial stages.

The treatment of existing spider veins does not prevent their recurrence. To stay healthy and prevent them from forming, it is necessary to adopt a total lifestyle change. Avoid tendencies that are likely to lead to them.

Spider Vein Removal – Costs, Laser and Creams

Is there a way on how to remove spider veins? There are medical procedures available for spider vein removal. These may require more than one session to be effective. They do not take a lot of time and no admission in the hospital is required.

Sclerotherapy

Where the spider veins are small in nature, this method may be adopted. A liquid chemical is injected into the veins. This irritates them and makes them to collapse. As a result, it scars the surface of the skin. This fades with time.

Depending on how many veins are being worked on, this method of spider vein removal may take from five minutes to an hour. The procedure is painless and one can go home after it is over. Some people may be allergic to the chemicals used in the procedure. If this is the case, the patient can choose another method.

The doctor may bandage the area that was under treatment or ask the patient to back the procedure up with compression stockings.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Spider veins located on the surface of the skin are removed through small cuts made on the skin. The procedure involves numbing of the section on which the procedure is to be carried out.
Vein Stripping

This is most suitable removal method for severe cases of spider veins. It involves making incisions on the skin, tying, blocking and removing long pieces of the vein. This cuts blood supply and with time the spider veins disappear. The process interferes with the circulatory system as it forces the other veins to carry out the functions of the removed vein.

Laser Spider Removal

This method uses beams of light energy. The spider veins are made to collapse by directing bursts of light into them. Though not too painful, the patient feels some irritation. This damages the vein making it form scar tissue which closes up the vein. The skin around which the spider veins are located develops a darker colour tone or it may discolor for a while. This then keeps fading away with time.

This method involves no injections and thus no chemicals are used. There also are no incisions involved and therefore this method is appropriate for all people expect pregnant women.

Simple Laser Treatment: This is used to remove small spider veins close to the skin surface. A number of sessions may be scheduled as the doctor may deem right and necessary.

Endovenous Laser Treatment:  When this method is used to remove spider veins, a small cut is made around the skin surface on which they have formed. Through a catheter, a laser fiber is passed. This makes the vein to get heated. The vein eventually closes up due to the heat. Mostly, this is done when large spider veins are to be treated.

 A light sedative is administered during the process. To back up laser spider vein removal, compression stockings will be recommended after the procedure has been done.

Laser Spider Vein Removal Cost

The cost for laser spider vein removal varies with different health providers. Generally, endovenous laser spider vein removal cost is higher than that of simple laser spider removal. This may be attributed to the advanced technology and complex processes that the former involves.

Spider Vein Removal Cost

When it comes to pricing of spider vein removal, these are predetermined by the providers. The pricing is dependent on various factors:

Sessions Attended

Some health providers charge per session. Since most removal methods require more than one session, the initial sessions will be more costly than the subsequent ones.  The prices decrease with an increase of the sessions. A certain clinic will charge $200 for the first session and $150 thereafter.

Body Parts with Spider Veins

With some practitioners, spider vein removal cost will depend on which body part you want attended. The highest will be on the legs followed by the hands. Spider veins on the face cost least.

Some clinics will charge you depending on the number of spider veins you want removed. These start from as low as $30 per vein. For a person with a countable number of veins, this is what they should opt for.

Method Used for Spider Vein Treatment

The method on which one settles for is also a great determinant of the spider vein removal cost. Sclerotherapy and laser treatment are the most expensive starting from $300 per session.

To ensure that the clinic you settle for is not exorbitant, inquire around from people who have had treatments.

Ask them how many sessions they had to attend and what the costs were. Work with a number of them to see the ones offering quality services at an affordable price. High costs do not always translate to quality services.  If you can get a cheap clinic for which perfect results are guaranteed, go for it.

Spider Vein Removal Cream

When spider veins affect the face, one may not wish to adopt medical procedures for removal as some have the side effects of causing scars and discoloration. While one may cover up such side effects with clothing if they are on other parts of the body, this is not possible for the face.

There are a number of spider vein removal creams available in drug stores. Most of them are fortified with Vitamin K so as to improve circulation. They only work when applied in the right concentrations as some are too little to penetrate the skin.

Compared to other methods, they take longer to be effective. While a single bottle of the cream may not cost much, too many of them may be required to be effective.  In the long end, this may prove to be more expensive.

Where one only wants a short term solution, there are cosmetic spider vein removal creams. These are make-up solutions which match one’s skin colour and are used only to conceal the spider veins. They can be used on any body part. One is only required to get the colour of that specific body part and get a concealer that matches with it.

How to Prevent Spider Veins – Ways of Spider Vein Prevention

Anything aimed at toning calf muscles and improving blood circulation will help in preventing spider veins in the legs. Most of the spider vein prevention methods used as home remedies can also be used for their prevention.

Avoid Standing or Sitting for too Long

Spending a long duration standing strains the legs. This in turn puts pressure on the calf muscles’ veins. The venous deficiency that results causes spider veins. Sitting for too long also hinders efficient blood flow. Where it is unavoidable to sit or stand for long, break the routine by walking around. While standing, shifting the body weight from one leg to the other can also help in easing the strain.

Avoid Crossing Your Legs

When one forms a habit of crossing the legs while sitting, there is a continuous   interruption in the flow of blood. This weakens the veins in the long run. There is a poor circulation which leads to spider veins. Avoiding this will help in preventing spider veins. Where possible elevate your feet above the level of the heart to improve circulation.

Wear Low Heels

High heels subject the legs to unnecessary pressure. This strains the calf muscles and restricts the flow of blood which may result in pooling of blood. If you love high heels and are wondering how avoid spider veins; avoid wearing them for long duration. Low heels maintain the natural posture of the legs. This is more so when required to stand for long duration.

Wear Compression Hose

Compression hose helps blood to flow to the heart by providing an external counter pressure. This stimulates the blood vessels and prevents pooling of blood. The possibility of formation of spider veins is therefore minimized.

Avoid Excessive Heat

Too much heat stretches the veins beyond normal dimensions. This leads to a higher risk for blood pooling.  Avoiding excess heat such as that produced in hot bath tubs helps in spider vein prevention.

Use Sunscreen

Spider veins on the face are mostly attributed to the scotching effects of the sun. They not only cause a dilation of the blood capillaries but also make the spider veins more visible. Applying sunscreen while spending time outdoors will act as a means of spider vein prevention.

Attain the Recommended Body Weight

For every height, there is an ideal body weight. One can learn what it is by consulting a doctor. Once you are aware of it, strive towards attaining it. Being overweight strains the legs and can lead to poor blood circulation. Maintaining a healthy body weight helps in preventing this.

Adopt Healthy Diet

Consumption of too much salt leads to a higher than normal water retention. This may lead to high blood pressure and swelling of the body. Blood circulation becomes strenuous for the veins which may make the valves faulty. Use little salt to avoid development of spider veins.

Include a lot of fiber in the diet to avoid constipation which could lead to spider veins if it becomes chronic.

Exercise Regularly

General exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight.  Exercises aimed at the legs such as cycling, jogging and running will help in toning the legs. It will also keep the calf muscles active which will result in efficient blood circulation and thus prevent spider veins. Daily walks, climbing the stairs and light swims are also great.

Avoid Tight Clothes

Ladies are fond of this. If you belong to the tight clothes lover’s club and are wondering how to avoid spider veins, you ought to do away with them. Clothes that are too tight on the abdomen, legs and thighs tend to restrict blood flow to and from the legs. Avoid them to prevent spider veins.

Spider Veins and Pregnancy

During pregnancies, a number of health complications are likely to emerge. For some women, this is when spider veins develop for the first time. For those that already have them, they tend to become worse. The reasons attributed to this are varied.

As the uterus grows, it exerts more pressure on the lower parts of the body. This pressure is most felt on the legs. A venous deficiency is9ikely to be experienced leading to the pooling of blood. Spider veins form as a result.

There is an increase in the amount of blood in a woman’s body once they fall pregnant. Since veins pumping blood from the legs are already acting against gravitational forces, this overburdens them. Blood vessels also relax due to the increased levels of progesterone. These cause an insufficiency in blood circulation leading to spider veins.

Constipation which is a common thing in pregnancy also contributes to spider veins. Straining during bowel movement strains the veins in the legs too. Eating food rich in fiber could prevent this.

With each successive pregnancy and as age increases, spider veins in pregnancy are likely to get worse. Where one is overweight or carrying twins or a set of more, the likelihood of getting them is higher.

Apart from the itchiness and slight discomfort that a pregnant woman may feel, spider veins do not have any adverse effects to the health of the baby.

There are various spider vein treatments available. During pregnancy, one can only employ some lifestyle changes for treatment such as exercise, proper sitting posture and the right dressing. Here is a detailed discussion on treatments. Wearing support stockings can also help. 

Spider veins get better after giving birth. If they don’t, one can go through medical procedures such as sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and vein stripping to have them removed. You can explore more on medical procedures available for treatment of spider veins. Note that they can only be undertaken after giving birth. 

Spider veins are likely to limit ones dressing to clothes that can cover them up. Their treatment also leads to extra expenses. It is therefore important to put into place measures that will prevent their occurrence. Not only will it save money but also help maintain a healthy look.

Sources:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3036276/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicose-veins/expert-answers/spider-veins/faq-20058284
• https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/spider-vein-treatment