Spider veins are small superficial blood vessels that appear red or blue in the skin. They commonly occur on the legs, but are also found on the face or other areas of the body. Spider veins appear in both men and women, but more frequently in women. Female hormones may play a role in their development. Varicose veins occur mainly from genetic susceptibility, and familial inheritance is reported in 15-40% of cases. Typically caucasians are most commonly affected. Pregnancy, puberty, prolonged standing, and prolonged walking are other possible causes of these veins.
There are two major forms of treatments for leg spider veins:
1. Laser leg vein treatment: This is recommended for leg veins that a less than or equal to 3mm in thickness. The procedure utilizes 3 major wavelengths of laser, namely the long pulse ND:YAG 1064nm; the 755nm Alexandrite and the 800nm Diode lasers. The treatment has the advantage of being faster, more user friendly compared to the alternative treatment of sclerotherapy which can lead to excessive bruising and skin lose from either the agent injected or the wrong tissue plane being injected. Laser works by thermal distruction of the blood vessels and the wall linings of the blood vessels.
2. Sclerotherapy:
In general, spider veins respond to either of these treatments in 3 to 6 weeks, and larger veins respond in 3 to 4 months. After several treatments, most patients can expect an 80 - 90 percent improvement. Fading will gradually occur over months.. Although this procedure works for most patients, there are no guarantees for success. If the veins respond to the treatment, they will not reappear. However, new veins may appear over time, and therefore if needed, you may return for injections and / or laser treatment.
Laser treatments and sclerotherapy are the primary treatment for small-vessel varicose disease of the lower extremities. The major indications for sclerotherapy are to improve cosmetic appearance and to reduce the associated symptoms such as pain and burning. When choosing a laser specialist for your leg veins treatment be sure to contact a board certified dermatologist who is trained in the science of laser treatment. Also ensure that he has the laser that is right for your skin type. You should avoid the laser machines that is an all-in-one unit because often , these units are master of none. In other words, if you want laser leg vein treatment, use a machine that does just that instead of 4 other things as well. Please contact FineTouch Dermatology clinic at (310)318-1500 to speak to a board certified Los Angeles dermatologist, or visit http://www.finetouchdermatology.com to learn more about the procedure.
