Sometimes, you might have noticed red and blue blood vessels visible through your skin. Have you become a little worried or embarrassed about them? Do you wonder what they are? They are called spider veins. Here, we will discuss the causes and various treatments of spider vein.
The causes of spider veins
Spider veins are a mild manifestation of venous reflux disease. They are small, tangled groups of blood vessels that are found just under the skin surface. These dilated veins have the appearance of branches or spider webs, and will most likely spread out around the legs and feet.
What are the risk factors?
Spider vein risk factors are similar to those associated with varicose veins, including older age, obesity, occupations requiring extended periods of standing, hormonal changes and heredity factors (weak vessel walls). People can also suffer from spider veins because of weak vessel walls or from exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Considering the risk factors, some people will be more prone to this problem than others. For example, if you work as a surgeon, a teacher or a nurse, chances are high that you may experience spider veins. Similarly, for people with a genetic history of weak vein valves, the probability of developing spider veins is also high. The same applies regarding hormonal changes, which mainly occur during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
The exact cause of spider veins is yet to be established. The existing risk factors can be divided into two wide sub-divisions, i.e. congenital causes and acquired causes. In congenital causes, we have Maffucci’s syndrom, port-wine stain and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (also known as osler-weber-rendu syndrome), among others. The acquired causes include chemotherapy, acne rosacea and lifestyle/occupation risk factors (as mentioned above).
Spider vein symptoms
Spider veins are painful in some cases, generally accompanying cramping and aching. They often result in a feeling of heaviness in the legs, and throbbing, burning or tingling feelings. Also, symptoms such as itching, swelling and fatigue can also be experienced. In serious cases, this condition can develop large sores, phlebitis and ulcers. However, spider veins are detected by their appearance in the majority of incidences.
Tests and Diagnosis
Doctors normally use non-invasive diagnostic tests to diagnose this condition. These tests are perfectly safe and painless, with no scalpels, needles or medication being involved. The entire procedure is normally very brief, and generally won’t take you more than an hour from start to finish.
There are three main questions that doctors seek to answer through these diagnostic tests. First, they wish to establish any evidence of deep vein blood clots. Secondly, they ascertain whether the veins are functioning properly. And last, they test the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) to determine whether it is working well or not.
Any competent vein specialist will always undertake this exercise before treating your condition. Some of the procedures that you can expect include:
*Color-flow Duplex Exam – This is used to evaluate the anatomy of the affected veins. It determines the direction of blood flow, openings and blockages. This procedure is also important in the process of vein mapping (done for skin deep problems).
*Bi-directional Doppler Exam – This is an ultrasound exam used to determine the speed of blood flow and whether it pauses during normal breathing. It also seeks to identify whether the veins are working properly.
*Photoplethysmography – Phew! Don’t let this complicated medical word intimidate you. Photoplethysmography is basically a diagnostic procedure that is used to determine the efficiency of your calf muscle pump.
*Pressure Calf Exam – In performing this exam, you’ll lie facing upwards with your legs lifted above your chest. This diagnostic procedure seeks to identify any vessel blockages.
Treatment
After establishing the specific nature of your problem, the doctor can then recommend the best treatment for you. There are several available options:
Sclerotherapy
This procedure involves the doctor injecting a saline solution into the affected veins. This solution results in damage to the affected vessel walls, causing them to swell and seal shut. Eventually the scar tissue will fade away. The sclerotherapy procedure takes around thirty minutes, and has only mild side-effects. Although the injection may be a bit painful, the stinging sensation is usually gone within a few minutes.
Laser & Intense Pulsed Light
This treatment employs the use of a specialized device that focuses laser energy to the damaged tissue. The procedure takes only 20 minutes, and has minimal side-effects.
Natural Remedies
Natural remedies can mean the difference between undergoing medical procedures or not, and are valuable alongside medical treatment. Some of the recommended herbal remedies include:
*Horse Chestnut Seed – Studies show that this seed improves blood circulation in the legs thus strengthening the veins and capillaries.
*Bilberry Extract – This herbal extract is known to stimulate new capillary formation thus strengthening the capillary walls.
*Butchers Broom – This herb strengthens veins.
*Gotu Kola – A very effective extract in addressing venous insufficiency, foot swelling and water retention. It therefore provides a good solution to spider veins found on the legs.
*Distilled Witch Hazel – This is directly applied on the affected areas using a cotton ball. Numerous clinical studies show that this extract can help strengthen blood vessels.
Caution: For health safety purposes, do not start using any herbal remedies without consulting a qualified doctor.
Spider veins prevention
Two of the most important things regarding the prevention of spider veins are eating well and getting regular exercise. Eating a diet higher in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables than meat and convenience food is important, and if your job requires you to stand for a long time, you need to regularly shift your body weight from one leg to another as well as standing evenly balanced.
To sum things up, the procedure of a spider vein removal is chosen according to several key factors. Your specialist will determine the best treatment options based on the results obtained from the diagnostic tests. We hope that this article will provide all the necessary guidance you need in addressing this problem.
For more information about spider veins Brisbane, contact the leg vein doctor Brisbane today.