Spider Veins
Many vein specialists treat your spider veins, but they don’t explore the root of the problem.
At Espinoza Vein Institute, we want to know what’s causing your spider veins. While most spider veins are usually harmless, they are an early sign of vein disease which could lead to chronic venous insufficiency that needs specialized treatment.
Spider Veins Causes and Risk Factors
Spider veins are small, damaged blood vessels that are visible on the surface of your skin. They are usually blue, red or purple and most often appear on the legs. You may experience some burning, itching or mild discomfort because of spider veins. Getting rid of spider veins can help you feel better about your legs and appearance.
Spider veins form when small veins don’t work properly. Blood pools in your legs and causes the blood vessels to expand.
Risk factors for spider veins include:
- Family history of vein disease or disorders
- Prolonged sitting or standing
- Recent leg injury or surgery
- Previous blood clot in the leg
- Overweight or obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Hormones
- Pregnancy
- Older age
Diagnosing Spider Veins
We will perform a physical exam and ask you about your medical history, symptoms, and any family history of vein disease.
We may also use vascular ultrasound to analyze your blood flow and look for more serious vein problems. Ultrasound is a safe, painless test.
Our advanced vascular lab is approved by the IAC (Intersocietal Accreditation Commission) which means that we meet or exceed the highest level of vein care standards. We will assess the blood flow in your veins and create a detailed vein treatment plan customized to your needs.
Spider Vein Treatments
We offer a number of advanced treatments for spider veins. You’ll learn the details of each procedure and which would be more effective and deliver the best results for you.
Sclerotherapy
This minimally invasive treatment involves injecting a solution into the veins. The solution makes the vein walls swell and stick together, stopping the flow of blood and causing the spider vein to fade.
Laser and radiofrequency treatments
These endovenous techniques use heat to seal off and destroy diseased spider veins. These treatments require a small incision using local anesthesia. It can take several months for the veins to disappear.
Clarivein®
During this treatment, we insert a thin, flexible wire into the diseased spider vein using ultrasound guidance. The tip of the catheter rotates, causing the targeted vein to spasm. A sclerosant solution further destroys the vein, which is gradually absorbed by the body.
Lifestyle changes
Regular exercise and compression stockings can help prevent new diseased veins and help slow down the progression of existing ones from getting worse.