Sometimes, you may have noticed red and blue blood vessels visible through your skin. Did you been a little worried or embarrassed about them? Have you wondered? They are known as spider veins. Here, we will discuss the causes and various treatments of spider vein.
What causes spider veins?
Spider veins are a mild manifestation of venous reflux disease. They are small, tangled groups of blood vessels found just under the surface of the skin. The veins are slightly dilated, and resemble tree 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 like those associated with varicose veins, including older age, occupations requiring extended periods of standing, obesity, heredity factors and hormonal changes. People can also develop spider veins due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays or as a result of weak vessel walls.
Considering the risk factors, some people will be more prone to this problem than others. For example, if you work as a surgeon, a nurse or a teacher, chances are higher that you could suffer from this condition. Similarly, if there is 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 not been strictly established. Existing risk factors can be divided into two wide sub-divisions, i.e. acquired causes and congenital. In congenital causes, is Maffucci’s syndrom, port-wine stain and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (also known as osler-weber-rendu syndrome), among others. The acquired causes include acne rosacea, chemotherapy and lifestyle/occupation risk factors (as discussed above).
What symptoms are associated with spider veins?
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 sensations. Also, other symptoms such as swelling, fatigue and itching can also be experienced. In advanced cases, this condition can establish ulcers, large sores and phlebitis. However, spider veins are detected by their appearance in the majority of incidences.
Tests and Diagnosis
Doctors generally use non-invasive diagnostic tests to diagnose this condition. These tests are perfectly safe and painless, with no needles, scalpels or medication needing to be involved. The entire procedure is normally very brief, and probably won’t take you more than an hour.
There are three main questions that doctors seek to answer through these diagnostic tests. First, they want to establish any evidence of deep vein blood clots. Secondly, they ascertain if the veins are functioning properly. And last, they test the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) to determine if it is working well.
A 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 (needed 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 identifies whether the veins are working properly.
*Photoplethysmography – Phew! Don’t let this complicated medical term 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 legs lifted above your chest. This diagnostic procedure identifies vessel blockages.
Treatment
After establishing the specific nature of your problem, the doctor can then outline the right treatment for you. Here are several available options:
Sclerotherapy
This procedure involves the doctor injecting a saline solution into the affected veins. The solution then damages the affected vessel walls, causing them to swell and seal shut. Eventually the scar tissue will fade away. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, and has only mild side-effects. Though the injection may be a bit painful, the stinging sensation is usually gone within a few minutes.
Laser and Intense Pulsed Light
This treatment employs the use of a specialised device that focuses laser energy to the affected tissue. The whole procedure will just take 20 minutes, and has minimal side-effects.
Natural Remedies
Using natural remedies can mean the difference between undergoing medical procedures or not, and are valuable alongside medical treatment. Some recommended herbal remedies include:
*Horse Chestnut Seed – Studies show that this seed helps to improve blood circulation in the legs thus strengthening the veins and capillaries.
*Bilberry Extract – This herbal extract stimulates 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 have shown 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 a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Eating a diet higher in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables than meat and convenience food is crucial, 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 by several key factors. Your specialist will determine the optimum 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.