Spider Veins: Causes & Treatment Information

What are spider veins & how they are treated? Spider veins, also known medically as telangiatasias, are tiny to small abnormally dilated very superficial veins. By this definition, we consider spider veins to actually be small varicose veins. While most consider varicose veins to be the large ropey, bulging lower extremity veins… spider veins are also abnormally dilated or stretched veins… only they are smaller and more superficially located. They are generally .1 to 1.5 mm in diameter, and residing in the epidermal layer of the skin. Spider veins can appear red, blue, or purple in color and can occur anywhere on the body. On the face, they are often attributed to chronic inflammation of the skin, sun exposure and a common condition known as rosacea. There are basically three kinds of spider veins.

• Spider Shape- Where a number of veins radiate from a central dark point
• Linear- Veins that are separate and thin
• Arborizing- Veins are tiny and tree branch like

If you are suffering from unsightly spider veins and want to learn about your treatment options, Midwest Vein Care in St. Louis can help. Our facility utilizes the latest spider vein treatment techniques, and we have some of the most advanced and state-of-the-art equipment for the treatment of spider veins. This includes the VeinGogh radiofrequency machine as well as laser and intense pulsed light (ipl) vein treatment equipment. This high-technology equipment is mostly utilized for facial spider vein treatment, while the gold standard for lower extremity spider vein treatment is injection compression sclerotherapy.

If you would like to learn more about treatment for spider veins, we encourage you to call us at 636-536-0241 and our experts would be happy to provide a personalized consultation.

What are The Causes of Spider Veins?

Spider veins are small veins lying close to the skin surface that have become stretched and dilated. These veins can now hold more blood and therefore become visible. Spider veins may develop due to various reasons. Here are some of them:

• Genetics:  There is a hereditary predisposition to develop spider veins. If your close relatives have spider veins, your chance of developing spider veins will be more likely. With a very common genetic tendency towards spider veins, some of your veins will become weaker structurally.
• Gravity: Since the blood in veins is returning to the heart, in the lower extremities that is an uphill, against gravity direction. This will put increased outward pressure in these veins, and against weakened walls, will result in abnormal dilitaton or stretching of the veins. Prolonged standing will therefore lead to increased incidence of spider veins.
• Hormones: Hormonal changes such as the ones that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can cause spider veins to develop. Spider veins have also been linked to birth control pills, infertility drugs, and hormone replacement therapy.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop spider veins than men are.
• Age: People are more likely to develop spider veins as they grow older.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: If you lead an inactive lifestyle, your chances of developing spider veins will become higher.

What are The Options for Spider Vein Treatment?

Even though they are extremely unsightly, spider veins can be easily treated. The most popular techniques to treat spider veins are sclerotherapy and laser vein removal through laser treatment.

In sclerotherapy, an irritating chemical liquid or foam is injected directly into the vein with a very tiny needle. This sclerosant chemical irritates the inner lining of the vein, causing it to collapse and become a fibrotic cord of scar tissue. Over the next few months, the body reabsorbs the scarred vein and no trace of it is left. Depending on the severity of your condition, you will typically require a small series of sclerotherapy sessions. Sclerotherapy is a very popular technique used to treat spider veins.

In laser treatment, a beam of light of a single wavelength is targeted at the spider vein. The target vein will absorb the laser light and become heated, causing the vein to collapse and seal shut. The surrounding tissue is not damaged. Another type of laser like treatment uses IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology. In this treatment technique, the light is made up of different wavelengths. IPL is commonly useful for treating tiny spider veins, blushed, or red skin.

Midwest Vein Care can also use the VeinGogh technology to treat spider veins. This machine is a superior system that was recently developed to treat spider veins. Vein Gogh uses a special radiofrequency technology that will generate high impedance electrical heating in the vein to seal it closed. This technology can be effective when sclerotherapy, IPL, or laser therapy have failed or if the veins have grown back.

Contact Us to Learn More About Spider Veins

If you want to learn more about spider veins or spider vein causes, call us at 636-536-0241. Our friendly staff and vein treatment experts will be happy work closely with you to give you all the information you need.