Sometimes, you may have noticed red and blue blood vessels visible through your skin. Have you been slightly embarrassed or worried about them? Do you wonder what they are? 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 skin’s surface. The veins are slightly dilated, and have the appearance of branches or spider webs, and are usually spread out on the legs and feet.
What are the risk factors?
Spider vein risk factors are like those associated with varicose veins, and include advancing age, obesity, occupations requiring extended periods of standing, hormonal changes and heredity factors (weak vessel walls). People can also experience this condition because of weak vessel walls or from exposure to ultraviolet rays.
From the risk factors, it is clear that some people are prone to this problem than others. For example, if you work as a surgeon, a nurse or a teacher, the chances are high that you may develop this condition. Similarly, if there is a family history of weak vein valves, the probability of developing spider veins is also high. The same applies regarding hormonal changes, which generally 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. congenital causes and acquired causes. In congenital causes, there 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 mentioned above).
Spider vein symptoms
Spider veins can be painful in some cases, generally accompanying cramping and aching. They are also closely linked to heaviness in the legs, and tingling, burning or throbbing feelings. Also, symptoms such as fatigue, itching and swelling can also be experienced. In serious cases, this condition can establish phlebitis, large sores and ulcers. However, spider veins are detected by their appearance in the majority of incidences.
Tests and Diagnosis
Doctors normally employ 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 more than an hour from start to finish.
There are three main questions that doctors seek to answer with these tests. First, they seek to establish any evidence of deep vein blood clots. Secondly, they discover whether the veins are functioning properly. And lastly, they test the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) to determine whether it is working well.
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 identifies whether your 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 be asked to lie facing upwards with legs lifted higher than your chest. This diagnostic procedure identifies vessel blockages.
Treatment
After establishing the specific nature of your problem, the doctor will then outline the right treatment for you. There are several available options:
Sclerotherapy
This procedure involves the doctor injecting a saline solution into the affected veins. The solution results in damage to the affected vessel walls, causing them to swell and seal shut. Eventually the scar tissue will fade. The sclerotherapy procedure takes about thirty minutes, and has only mild side-effects. And although the injection may be a bit painful, the stinging sensation is usually gone within a few minutes.
Laser & Intense Pulsed Light
This treatment option employs the use of a specialized device that focuses laser energy to damaged tissue. The whole procedure only takes 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 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 which addresses 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 very 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 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.