What are Spider Veins?
The medical word for spider veins is Telangiectasia. They are small, dilated veins that are near the skin’s surface. They may be red, blue, or purple and are typically found on the legs, but can appear in other parts of the body. While typically not dangerous, many people find them to be unsightly.
What is the treatment for Spider Veins?
The two most common treatments for Spider Veins are sclerotherapy and laser treatment.
Sclerotherapy
This is an injection to various spider veins done with a very small needle and performed by a medical provider in a clinic. There is minimal pain, if any. If there is pain it is usually described as a stinging. The treatment takes 20-45 minutes. The medication injected into the Spider Veins irritates the inner wall of the veins, causing them to close. This is a safe, commonly performed procedure.
Laser therapy
This is also performed in a medical office and by a medical provider. It can take 20-60 minutes. This topical laser is set to a wavelength that targets certain veins just below the skin and the laser energy destroys the spider vein. Pain associated with this procedure is usually described as a series of warm rubber band snaps to the skin or stinging. This is also a safe procedure.
Many clinicians opt to treat spider veins with sclerotherapy first, as it is often less expensive for the patient and can treat a wide range of vein sizes. They may choose to follow sclerotherapy with laser treatment a few months after the last sclerotherapy treatment to get the smallest veins or any that could not be treated sufficiently by sclerotherapy. It is important to note that both Sclerotherapy and Laser treatments have their limitations, and both will likely require multiple treatments (2-5). Treated spider veins do not return, but new spider veins may grow because of the underlying condition (usually genetic).
Compression therapy
A third treatment for Spider Veins is Compression. Daily use of medical grade compression stockings or other compression garments is essential in any type of vein disease. While this treatment will not cause spider veins to disappear, it will certainly aid in preventing new ones from forming.
