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Spider veins and varicose veins are more unsightly than worrisome and though many decide to leave them be, some prefer to have them ‘removed’. Several procedures are applied two of which are sclerotherapy and laser treatment. Before looking into these procedures it’s important to know what causes varicose veins so you can do something to prevent their reappearance. Varicose veins are caused by improperly functioning leaflet valves in the veins. The valves act as a stopper to prevent blood flowing backward and ensure it’s returned to the heart. When the valves fail to work properly, blood flows with gravity and enlarges the veins. Most varicose veins are centered in the legs because the act of standing increases pressure. If left untreated whether through medication, surgery or lifestyle changes, the condition can worsen to become painful, swollen and ulcerated. The most effective way to deal with varicose veins is to alter one’s lifestyle. Prevention is better than cure so if you’ve begun to see veins showing up or want to prevent the occurrence, make these changes: • Get up frequently, walk around and try to stay in motion. Physical activities and exercise have no substitutes. Jogging, jumping rope, sprinting and aerobics exercises keep blood flowing and force veins and organs to work themselves. • Tight clothes should be avoided especially if they strangle the waist, groin and legs. High-heeled shoes should not be worn for long because they don’t tone calf muscles and don’t facilitate blood circulation. • Overweight individuals have another reason to shed the pounds. Veins undergo more pressure when one is overweight so take exercise and a healthy diet seriously. If you already have varicose veins there are several treatments you can undergo. We’ll take a look at sclerotherapy and laser treatment. Sclerotherapy: In sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected into the problem vein to cause irritation which forces the valves to close off. You’ll need to undergo several sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. The course of the treatment will see the vein beginning to fade as healing is facilitated by elastic bandaging which also helps reduce swelling. Laser therapy: Laser therapy is another option where a beam of light is focused on the problem area. The light damages the vein which causes scar tissue to form which in turn closes off the vein. Laser treatment may be one of two types, simple laser treatment and endovenous laser treatment. The first is used to treat spider veins and small varicose veins situated right under the surface of the skin. The second treats larger veins (especially in the leg). In this procedure, a laser fiber is passed into the vein after which a beam of light is concentrated on the interior of the vein. Where non-surgical procedures like the two mentioned above do not work or are not recommended, surgery is the only other removal option. Vein stripping and endoscopic vein surgery are possibilities. In vein stripping, the problem vein is physically removed through small incisions whereas in endoscopic surgery, a surgical device aided by a tiny camera closes the vein. Non-surgical procedures are less painful and cheaper. Surgery should only be considered for people with severe varicose veins where appearance is the least of their worry but physical discomfort and health concerns are. The surest way to know which you need is to consult with a qualified and experienced doctor. Dermatologists always study the root cause of every problem before offering their expert advice, which may range from some therapies to a change in lifestyle. For a few tips to treat all skin ailments, follow this link.
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