Vascular lesions, Rosacea
Vascular lesions
What are spider veins?
Millions of women and men are troubled by unattractive spider veins on their faces and legs. Spider veins are called as such because they resemble a "star" with numerous small veins radiating from a center point. They may also appear as fine, separate lines, a web-like maze, or as "branches" from a single "tree trunk." It is estimated that more than 75% of females over the age of 18 have spider veins. These red, blue or purple thread-like lines may develop on any part of the body, including the face, but most often appear on the thighs, calves, or buttocks. The condition is associated with increased pressure to the veins.
Are spider veins bad for health?
The spider veins are always superficial to the skin and much smaller than the varicose veins. Because the spider veins are dark and superficial to the skin, they are a major source of embarrassment for most females.
One thing to note about these veins is that they are harmless and not associated with any symptoms. The disfigurement is only of a cosmetic concern
What causes spider veins?
Spider veins are typically caused by abnormal blood flow and weakening of the blood vessel wall. Any condition or activity that places pressure on the veins (like weight gain, prolonged sitting or standing) can contribute to their development.
Spider veins increase with age and thus are quite common in the elderly. There is also a genetic basis, since spider veins do tend to run in families. In pregnancy, spider veins are quite common and have been associated with an increase in the female sex hormone, estrogen. Estrogen is known to weaken the walls of the veins and may contribute to the development of spider veins. During pregnancy spider veins are most common in the 2nd trimester.
What are non surgical methods of treating spider veins?
The most conservative approach for treating spider veins is to wear properly fitting support hose (also called compression stockings). These stockings can generally be purchased at any pharmacy and come in various styles and colors. The stockings may be worn below or above the knee. Unfortunately, once the spider veins have developed, they do not disappear even with wearing stockings.
Other conservative treatment approaches include maintaining good skin hygiene, losing weight if you are overweight, exercising regularly (especially walking), avoiding prolonged periods of sitting or standing, and elevating your legs while sitting and sleeping. For those who tend to stand up for prolonged periods, time outs should be taken to rest the feet.
Laser treatment
What is the role of Laser in the treatment of spider veins?
The best and gold standard treatment for spider veins is laser. Laser vein removal is an easy, fast, and effective way to treat superficial veins. Laser therapy has been used in the medicine for more than 30 years. Advances in technology have helped developed many different lasers. The laser uses a focused beam of light. In the treatment of veins, the wavelength of light is targeted to the pigment in the blood. The laser heats up the small vein and destroys it. The laser beam is focused and does not damage the nearby skin tissue. Over a period of four to six weeks, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears.
What type of laser is used to treat spider veins?
The most common laser used to treat spider veins is the Long Pulse Nd: YAG Laser system. It is a hand held device and also has a cooling tip to minimize the discomfort during the therapy.
How does the laser work?
The Nd YAG laser pierces the skin and penetrates the superficial blood vessel. The heat generated from the laser coagulates the blood inside the vessel causing it to collapse and seal. Over the next few weeks, the vessel will disappear and all the blood will be removed by the body's scavenging cells. The newer laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel without injuring any nearby structures.
Is laser therapy for spider vein is painful?
During your treatment, you may feel a slight tingling sensation as the laser fires. If the individual feels any pain, a topical local anesthetic is applied 20 minutes before the procedure.
How does one feel after the spider vein laser therapy?
Soon after the procedure, you may feel a slight bump on the skin which will disappear in the next 2-4 hours. The area may also appear slightly redder and occasionally may be bruised.
Are there any precautions after spider vein laser therapy?
After laser therapy, it is strongly recommended that one keep away from the sun. Healing can be facilitated by wearing support hose. The pain is minimal and one may take any over the counter pain medications. After treatment, there is no down time. You can resume all of your normal activities immediately afterward.
What are side effects of spider vein laser therapy?
The skin above the veins will have a reddish, cat-scratch appearance. This generally disappears over the next two days.
When can I go back to work after spider vein laser therapy?
Patients are encouraged to resume all normal activities immediately. Most patients are satisfied by the results in a very short time. In some cases final results may not be apparent for several months.
How long does it take for the results to become evident?
The results of laser treatment for spider veins are not immediate. After the laser therapy, the vessels underneath the skin will gradually change from a dark blue to light red color, then eventually disappearing in two to six weeks.
Most patients report a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure and relief at no longer having to hide unsightly veins. The treated areas are noticeably clearer and in most cases the skin continues to improve with each successive treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
Depending on the size and number of veins, two to six treatments will be needed. The treatments are usually done 4-6 weeks apart.
What are advantages of laser over sclerotherapy?
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it has much fewer side effects
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It is less traumatic to the surrounding skin compared to sclerotherapy
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It takes a much shorter time to complete laser treatment
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It is less painful than sclerotherapy
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Recovery is immediate
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Downtime is almost zero
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Laser therapy can even be used on the face
What are other methods of treating spider veins?
If conservative treatment does not achieve satisfactory relief of symptoms or if the appearance of the veins is bothersome, other treatments may be offered, depending on your overall medical condition. Depending on the size and location of the veins, other treatment techniques include:
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Sclerotherapy: This technique is not useful for varicose veins, only spider veins. This procedure involves the injection of a concentrated solution of sodium chloride directly into the vein with a small needle. The solution irritates the veins and causes it to collapse. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades away. Most individuals require a couple of sessions to treat all the spider veins. Side effects of sclerotherapy may include slight swelling, bruising, and redness and itching at injection sites. If the solution leaks out of the vein, pain and darkening of the skin occurs.
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Intense Light Therapy: This newer technique of treating spider veins uses intense pulsed light that can be used to selectively damage or destroy abnormal veins including small spider veins and small vascular birthmarks. This treatment may be recommended when sclerotherapy or laser therapy does not effectively treat the superficial vein. Two to four treatments may be required depending on the number and size of the lesions.
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Surgical ligation/stripping: Spider veins are almost never treated with surgery. Surgery is only reserved for the large varicose veins.
