Spider Veins

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are small, bluish-purple or red veins near the surface of the skin. Leg veins have the toughest job of carrying blood back to the heart against gravity, which can result in blood backup called venous reflux. This pressure is why spider veins most commonly appear on the legs, though they can also develop on the face and feet.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 50 to 55 percent of women and 40 to 45 percent of men suffer from some type of vein problem. Varicose veins affect half of people aged 50 and older.

Treatment Options

Sclerotherapy involves using a very small needle to inject a medication called sclerosant directly into the vein, causing the lining to swell until the vessel is sealed shut. For larger veins below the surface, ultrasound is used to visualize and guide injections. Smaller surface veins are treated without ultrasound. The collapsed veins are then dissolved and reabsorbed by the body.

For patients who prefer a non-injection approach, laser vein treatment uses high-energy pulses of light to shrink veins and cause them to fade from view.

All treatment is done in the office with local anesthetic and produces minimum discomfort. Because treatments are minimally invasive, patients can drive, return to work, and resume most normal activities the same day or the day after.

Why Treatment Matters

Spider veins rarely pose a serious health risk, but they can produce uncomfortable sensations in the legs. Varicose veins, if left untreated, will not improve on their own and can worsen over time, potentially leading to skin darkening, chronic swelling, or difficult-to-treat wounds called venous stasis ulcers.

Houston's Finest

If you are looking for an experienced team of dermatologists, please contact Bayou City Dermatology today.