Jul 29, 2022 | Leg Care, News
You’ve seen them before. And now you’re seeing them again! Those pesky, unattractive spider veins.
Perhaps you originally had them around your ankles or on your thighs and you sought treatment.
Now they seem to have reappeared, and you’re asking, can spider veins come back after treatment?
About Spider Veins
Spider veins are those thin red or blue veins on your skin’s surface.
You will commonly find spider veins on thighs and calves. They also appear on the face and breasts.
Spider veins can be itchy and annoying, or cause legs to feel slightly tired. But they are rarely painful and are almost always harmless.
Today, doctors consider sclerotherapy the best treatment for the removal of spider veins. But this isn’t always the medical procedure performed.
Reasons Spider Veins Return
There are several reasons spider veins return, or at least seem to return.
But what happens most often is that new spider veins develop in the same area after treatment.
So, it’s not that the spider veins that were treated are returning. Rather, new spider veins show up and are mistaken for the original veins.
Reasons spider veins return in the same area include:
- A person has venous insufficiency, so deeper, untreated veins are causing the development of new spider veins
- A person’s body doesn’t properly regulate new vein formation
- The person continues with activities that cause spider veins, such as long periods of sitting or standing, or staying obese
- Saline or skin laser was improperly used to treat them
- Genetics
Venous Insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is a progressive vein disease. A vein specialist can treat it, but venous insufficiency will not go away on its own.
If a person has venous insufficiency, the underlying varicose veins combined with an increase in venous pressure encourage the development of new spider veins.
So new spider veins form.
It seems like the old ones are returning, but they’re not.
Doctors can diagnose venous insufficiency with a simple, painless ultrasound of your legs. This will show whether your vein valves are working correctly, and whether you have this condition.
Spider vein treatment should be delayed until this test is performed. If the cause of the spider veins is indeed venous insufficiency, the underlying veins need to be treated first.
If the underlying problem remains untreated, the spider veins are sure to return.
And venous insufficiency needs to be treated for health reasons.
Endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) or Varithena, a micro-foam sclerosant, are favored ways to treat venous insufficiency.
The spider vein won’t be under pressure once the varicose vein receives treatment. At that time, sclerotherapy can treat the spider veins successfully.
If spider veins recur after sclerotherapy, they usually come back in a much less severe form. This happens quite some time after the sclerotherapy procedure.
Genetics and Hormones
If your genetic makeup is encouraging the development of spider veins, trying to get rid of them is an uphill battle.
How do you know your spider veins are caused by genetics?
The easiest way to find out is to ask immediate family members if they’re developing spider veins, too. If they are, you have your answer!
If they aren’t, your spider veins may still be genetic. But the good news is that spider veins caused by genetics are no reason for any health concerns.
Hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause can also encourage the development of spider veins.
Laser Therapy
Some doctors use laser therapy as a treatment for spider veins.
Many patients find this procedure to be painful since heat is applied directly to the skin. It also takes a longer time to treat a small area.
Lasers can also cause hypopigmentation—a loss of melanin in the skin.
But most discouraging is that if the laser doesn’t produce enough heat to seal the vein, the procedure will fail. For this reason, you will need additional treatments.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the state-of-the-art treatment for spider veins.
It is considerably more effective and faster than laser treatment. And you don’t feel pain.
During sclerotherapy, the doctor injects a solution or sclerosing agent into the vein.
This causes the vein to scar and collapse. Eventually, you can no longer see the vein since it is resorbed by the body.
Sodium chloride is no longer considered an acceptable sclerosing agent. It can be painful for the patient and can cause serious complications.
Eighty percent of spider veins treated by visual sclerotherapy usually disappear in three to six weeks. So even one treatment of sclerotherapy will create noticeable results.
Patients may need new treatments every few years if new spider veins appear.
How Can You Keep Spider Veins from Recurring?
Are there things you can do after treatment to keep more spider veins from developing?
The answer is yes.
They include:
- Exercising your legs regularly
- Staying at or getting to a healthy weight
- Eating a balanced diet
- Wearing compression stockings or socks
If you want to learn more about spider veins, read:
If you are seeking effective, safe, and comfortable treatment for your spider veins, contact us at NJVVC.
Dec 8, 2021 | Leg Care, News
Do you have clusters of red, blue, or purple veins on your ankles or feet? Are these veins thin and close to the surface of the skin? If so, it sounds like you have spider veins. Many people come to our vein center asking about the spider veins on their ankles and how to treat them.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins develop when blood gathers in the veins that exist near your skin’s surface. These veins have stopped working efficiently because they are weak or damaged. Blood backs up and pools, causing the veins to become visible.
Why Are Spider Veins Commonly Found on Ankles and Feet?
Ankles and feet are prone to developing spider veins. Slower blood circulation and increased pressure on veins causes feet to swell. This encourages the formation of spider veins.
You also find spider veins on the thighs, calves, and face.
What Factors Influence the Development of Spider Veins?
Heredity plays a major role in the development of spider veins. In fact, studies show that up to 90 percent of people who have spider veins have a family history of them.
Other factors can include:
• Sitting or standing for long periods of time
• Obesity
• Trauma
• Sunlight exposure
• Pregnancy
What Do Spider Veins on Ankles Look Like?
Spider veins have a specific look. They seem to gather and branch out from a central location. Each vein is usually less than 1mm in diameter.
This common grouping of veins often resembles a branch, a spider, or a spiderweb. Now you know where the name “spider veins” comes from!
When blue and/or red spider veins are on the inside of the ankle or foot and form a crown-like pattern, it is called corona phlebectasia. This is associated with advanced vein problems. People with corona phlebectasia should visit a vein doctor for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan.
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Spider veins on the ankles, although unsightly, usually don’t indicate a serious health problem.
Sometimes they are itchy or painful. But most often, spider veins are mainly annoying from a cosmetic standpoint. Understandably, people want unattractive spider veins treated.
In rare cases, spider veins contribute to the formation of large skin sores, or ulcers. This problem is most likely to occur near spider veins on the ankles and requires immediate treatment.
Treatment for Spider Veins on Ankles
Excellent treatment exists for unattractive spider veins on feet and ankles.
You can try some simple things at home to ease minor discomfort and prevent additional spider veins from forming.
Unfortunately, untreated spider veins will worsen over time.
To eliminate existing spider veins, visit our office for safe and effective treatment.
Ways to Prevent Spider Veins on Your Ankles
When sitting, keep your feet elevated above your heart. This will improve your circulation and can even reduce the size of spider veins in your ankles and feet. Use a recliner or put pillows under your feet in bed.
Wear compression socks. Compression socks will improve your blood circulation and reduce pressure on leg and foot veins. Your feet will not swell, reducing the development of more spider veins.
Try not to stand for a long period of time. And try to stand on your tiptoes at workable intervals. This will improve leg muscles and blood circulation in spider veins.
Exercise more. Increase your physical activity to reduce vein discomfort. Regular-paced walking will improve your spider vein health.
Learn useful massages for your ankles and feet. Our doctor can discuss what type of massage will work best in your situation.
Visit Our Office for a Spider Vein Evaluation
Patients come to our office for accurate diagnosis and state-of-the-art treatment of spider veins and other vein issues.
At NJVVC, we know the importance of thoroughly understanding your vein health. We perform comprehensive vein evaluations so we can successfully treat your spider vein problems.
Sclerotherapy Treatment for Spider Veins
Before our doctor treats your spider veins, he will make sure they aren’t associated with varicose veins. If our doctor finds this connection, he will first treat your varicose veins; this will keep the spider veins from reappearing after treatment.
Spider veins in themselves may not be a serious problem, but varicose veins often need treatment.
Visual Sclerotherapy is extremely effective in the treatment of spider veins. It involves injection of a solution into the spider vein. The solution causes the vein to collapse.
This treatment requires no anesthesia.
The sclerosing agent that we use at NJVVC is safe and comfortable for the patient. Your treated spider veins will collapse and disappear three to six weeks after your procedure.
If you have spider veins or other vein issues, contact us for an appointment. We offer expert diagnosis and treatment.
Aug 28, 2020 | News
Thin blue, purple, or red lines, which may appear like webs or branches on your face, are known as spider veins. Some people also refer to them as thread veins or broken blood vessels.
There could be several reasons for spider veins appearing on the face. Understanding what causes them can help prevent and even treat them.
What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are thin and damaged veins near the surface of the legs and facial skin. They are often highly visible. Unlike varicose veins, they usually don’t cause pain, but sometimes some mild discomfort.
When blood vessels are prominent near the facial skin surface, they are also known as facial Telangiectasis. Most people refer to spider veins as broken blood vessels. When Telangiectasis appears, it is typically due to heredity and environmental factors. Extreme heat or cold and the sun are the factors that seem to play a large role in their occurrence.
There are no at-home remedies to remove spider veins. But the good news is, this condition is easily treatable.
Before we discuss treatment options, it’s important to understand why reasons spider veins appear.
Causes of Spider Veins on the Face
| ● Aging |
● Sun Exposure |
| ● Gender |
● Alcohol Use |
| ● Genetics |
● Skin Diseases |
| ● Hormones |
● Injury |
| ● Pregnancy |
● Liver Disease |
Women are more often affected by spider veins than men. The most common causes are aging, alcohol consumption, injury to the face, changes in weather, and sun exposure.
Those who suffer from rosacea, liver disease, or connective tissue diseases often have spider veins on the face.
Pregnancy can also cause spider veins on various areas of the body. Elevated blood pressure and estrogen during pregnancy can easily lead to broken blood vessels appearing on the skin.
Spider veins are hereditary. If you have a family history of spider veins, you’ll likely see them on multiple areas of the body such as legs and face.
Sun exposure can exacerbate spider veins and make them more prominent. Chemical irritants and environmental changes are also determining factors of spider veins appearing. Protecting your skin with sunscreen and vitamins is helpful in mitigating these factors.
Spider veins can fade with time, they are not necessarily permanent. However, they may take years to become less noticeable. Seeking professional intervention and treatment will help them fade faster.
Treatment for Spider Veins on Face
There are a number of treatments that can reduce or eliminate spider veins from your face.
Please remember that after most forms of spider vein treatment, there is a higher risk of sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid the sun directly after a procedure and incorporate sunscreen into your routine.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive spider vein treatment. It involves injecting a chemical solution into the broken veins. The veins then harden, close, and finally disappear. This treatment reduces swelling and causes the affected veins to shrink and vanish.
Sclerotherapy is an excellent solution for treating large spider veins of the face. Most people see immediate results although best results are seen after ten days.
This treatment is generally painless and won’t break the bank. There is very little down time after this procedure. Many people return to work and activities the same day.
Retinol/Vitamin A Creams
Retinol creams with vitamin A effectively fade and reduce the appearance of spider veins by building collagen in the dermis and minimizing their appearance.
Retinoid creams are mainly used for acne and rosacea. They help regenerate new skin cells by removing the outermost layer of skin. This allows for the fresh, undamaged skin to come to the surface. Your doctor can help you to find the right balance of retinoids to reduce spider veins and achieve your desired results.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy is another form of treatment to help break up spider veins. Laser therapy is a very targeted treatment that works to destroy spider vein entirely. Lasers therapy uses a light beam to seal the vessels off, causing them to dissolve.
People with a darker complexion should avoid this therapy. This form of treatment can destroy melanin and lead to discoloration. This risk increases with the number of treatments given. One to three sessions of laser therapy may be needed to treat facial spider veins.
Many people report that laser treatments are painful. It has been likened to a rubber band snapping sensation against the face. Laser treatment might seem like a no side effect therapy, but bruising does occur often. This procedure can also be very costly.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense pulsed light is often used to treat spider veins of the face. The IPL treatment is similar to laser therapy. The main difference is that the light pulse penetrates down to the second layer of skin without affecting the top layer.
Pulsing light helps break up spider veins making them less noticeable. At the same time, this treatment encourages the regeneration of cells. Light therapy can also help with killing bacteria on the surface of the skin and may be helpful if you are prone to acne.
These light treatments are extremely targeted. They work best on spider veins that are very noticeable and need precise targeting to treat.
Electrocautery and Radiofrequency
In electrocautery and radiofrequency procedures, a fine needle-like tip vaporizes the dilated vessels.
The treatment may be a little uncomfortable, but it is quick and has a low chance of scarring. These techniques can treat even the tiniest spider veins that even lasers cannot.
Where to Seek Treatment?
Rely on professional help to eliminate spider veins on your face. Receiving treatment from a qualified vein care specialist reduces side effects like increased redness, itchiness, and scarring.
Your skin is precious and taking proper care of it can make a big difference in how you see yourself. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation to discuss you skin care needs.
This blog has been updated in November 2021.
Jan 28, 2020 | News
Good vein health can’t be achieved overnight. It takes eating the right foods, exercise, and putting aside some bad habits. An estimated 40 million Americans are affected by varicose veins, which is just one type of vein complication. About half of those individuals have a history of varicose veins in their family. Women are the most likely to develop the disease. We have created this guide to vein conditions that could be affecting you.
While varicose veins are one of the most well-known vein complications, there is a range of other diseases that can affect your vascular system.
This condition is presented as white or bluish skin in the fingers and toes due to spasms in the small arteries.
With this malady, you’ll notice a pain in the feet and legs as well as hands and arms. This is brought on by blocked blood vessels.
Peripheral Venous Disease
This disorder initially shows as bulging in the veins under the skin, leading to a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
An ailment that causes poor circulation brought on by hardening or narrowing of the artery from smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc
Varicose veins are one of the most common vein issues. You’ll notice it by the bulging or purplish veins in the legs due to damaged valves.
We find that this issue is usually caused by pregnancy, bed rest, or damage to the veins. Pregnancy veins occur due to the increased size of the uterus during pregnancy. The uterus causes pressure on the large vein on the right side of the body, called the vena cava.
Usually painless, this condition affects almost 80% of adults due to hormone imbalances, weak veins, and genetic factors.
Whether inherited or acquired, these disorders make it so that blood does not clot normally. When this happens blood can often be found in urine or stool. It may also cause nosebleeds or excessive bleeding during childbirth.
Telangiectasia (Also Known as Spider Veins)
Spider veins are caused by the pressure of body weight, gravity and the tough job of carrying blood back to the heart. You may notice them on the face, breasts, and feet. Almost 60% of adults may have spider veins.
With this condition, fluid from the lymphatic system builds up and causes swollen arms and legs. Most often this is caused by damaged or missing lymph nodes or vessels.
Foods for Maintaining Good Vein Health
Support good vein health this year by integrating foods that increase and promote blood flow. You can accomplish this by looking for foods that are high in Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Foods like citrus, broccoli, bell peppers, mangos, fish, etc.
It’s also important to include foods like brown rice, leafy greens, chia, and lentils that are high in fiber. Drinking enough water is also important for optimal vein health.
Precautions to Avoid Vascular Conditions
By integrating healthy lifestyle considerations into your day-to-day, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking, you can avoid future vascular problems.
If medications are needed to lower cholesterol and regulate your blood pressure, it’s important to take the meds as prescribed to mitigate the occurrence of vascular issues.
Cosmetic Varicose Veins Treatment and Spider Vein Treatment
Varicose and spider veins are treatable. Sclerotherapy is often the best method of treatment. This in-office procedure is an easy and painless way to resolve this cosmetic issue.
Other procedures can include stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, endoscopic vein surgery, and endothermal ablation. Laser surgeries can also help to make the veins fade and disappear under intense light bursts.
Natural Therapies to Cure Vein Conditions
While cosmetic vein treatment is effective, regular exercise, dietary changes, compression stockings, and herbal remedies can guide to improve the symptoms and side effects of some vein conditions.
Doing regular yoga with positions where the lower legs are elevated above the heart helps in relieving symptoms of varicose veins.
Sound sleep also affects your vein health. Just one week of fewer hours of sleep can affect your vein condition.
Guide To Preventing Vein Conditions
The same remedies that help to reduce and eliminate the severity of vein conditions are also the treatments that you should continue even after a vein condition has improved.
Keep moving, eat right, and stop smoking. You may also consider wearing looser clothing and not standing or sitting for long periods of time.
For more information about caring for your veins or how to prevent vascular issues, please contact our office.
Sep 28, 2018 | News
If you’ve experienced leg pain that seems to be emanating from a vein but are unsure what it is, it may be venous insufficiency. Pain, swelling, itchiness, leathery skin, or loss of cosmesis are symptoms of venous insufficiency and a warning of when to see a vascular specialist. Allowing any symptom to linger too long, can lead to much more serious conditions.
What Is Venous Insufficiency?
Healthline defines the process of your body’s blood flow as functioning properly when it operates within an intricately simple system. The arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body, and the veins return it back to the heart. Valves act as the stopgap in your veins to keep blood from flowing backward.
If the veins are not able to return blood to your heart for some reason, then it begins to pool where its movement is blocked in your legs. This is known as venous insufficiency. You may be having trouble with a blood clot or varicose veins.
- Blood Clot: A blood clot restricts the flow of blood, and as a result, blood pools below the clot.
- Varicose Veins: Blood leaks back through damaged valves.
- Weakness in the Leg Muscles: May result in squeezing the blood forward.
Is Venous Insufficiency Painful?
While pain is one of the symptoms associated with venous insufficiency, its effects may vary depending on the severity and placement of the vein condition.
Some people experience a feeling of heaviness in the leg, while others may describe their discomfort as achiness. An itching or throbbing sensation may also occur. If the situation has become acute, extreme pain can occur while standing or walking.
Is Venous Insufficiency Life Threatening?
According to the
National Center for Biotechnology Institute (NCBI), vein disease is common and manageable if caught during the early stages. A vascular specialist can diagnose the severity of your situation. If your symptoms are not bothersome, you may benefit from exercise, weight loss, wearing compression stockings, or elevating your leg.
If left untreated, however, venous insufficiency can result in loss of cosmesis in addition to serious complications, such as thrombosis, ulcers, or bleeding.
Why Vein Disease Should Never Be Ignored
The circulatory system is essential to the body’s overall health.
Veins and arteries are an integral part of this system, as they are responsible for transporting blood to and from the heart.
Veins bring blood back to the heart and are prone to complications since they must work against gravity.
Left untreated, vein-related complications like vein disease can cause serious health complications.
What Happens When Vein Disease Is Left Untreated
When the veins do not work properly and the blood flow from your body to your heart is decreased, the skin can become dry and itchy. As the blood is not flowing at its optimal speed, the skin can also become discolored and swollen. When this inflammation becomes chronic, it can be referred to as stasis
dermatitis.
This only occurs when stasis dermatitis has worsened. The symptoms of cellulitis include red and swollen skin, chills and fever, and swollen lymph nodes. This typically happens when vein disease intensifies, and treatment is not sought.
When cellulitis sets in, the risk of a lethal bacterial infection sepsis increases dramatically.
Ulcers and Spontaneous Bleeding
As vein disease progresses, the body’s veins either become enlarged or deteriorate over time. If the vein’s capabilities have decreased dramatically, blood may pool in the varicose veins. This forces them to become more swollen and create painful ulcers.
Ulcers caused by untreated vein disease can itch, burn, cause rashes, and dry out skin. They may be a brown color and ooze or bleed with a foul-smelling substance.
Deep vein thrombosis happens when a blood clot is formed within the veins of the leg or other body parts. It can happen when veins are no longer able to bring blood back to the heart and create a clot within the leg.
When a clot is created because of untreated vein disease, a pulmonary embolism can occur. This occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot that has traveled to the lung.
There are a variety of ways to maintain the health of your circulatory system and many treatment methods for vein disease and other vein-related issues.
When you have concerns about the health of your veins, contact the New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center for diagnosis and treatment of vascular disorders.
