You're So Vein
Do you ever look at your legs and think it is a map to the Holy Grail? If your legs look like road maps due to unsightly veins, there are now FDA approved treatments to take care of them.
There are two types of veins that women worry about. The first is the varicose vein. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that look purple or blue. They usually appear bulging and can be quite painful especially after standing for a prolonged period. You can also get leg swelling or edema from these types of veins. Both men and women can get varicose veins. We'll focus on women for the sake of this article.
Varicose veins are sometimes preventable. If you work in a position that requires prolonged standing, i.e., nursing, retail etc, you can wear support stockings to keep the flow of blood in an upward flow and won't allow the blood to pool. Weight control. Why does it always come down to weight? Regardless, controlling your weight to keep pressure off the legs is very important. Simple things like elevating your legs and not crossing your legs can play a role as well.
Are varicose veins dangerous? Sometimes yes. They can be a sign of venous insufficiency due to an undiagnosed heart condition, they can sometimes ulcerate, and cause chronic rashes with permanent skin discoloration.
There are treatments for varicose veins. Sclerotherapy, laser surgery, radiofrequency and stripping are available. When getting treatment on varicose veins, it would be wise to see a vascular surgeon. These veins can be the most problematic and carry the most complications if not carried out correctly.
OK, now, the ugly spider veins. They can just ruin your day. Spider veins are often red, blue or purplish. They tend to be closer to the surface than their varicose friends. They too are caused by similar factors including hormonal changes, weight changes (ugh, again!), age, pregnancy etc. The prevention of spider veins is almost identical to that of varicose veins. The use of sunscreen is recommended to prevent them on the face and neck area.
There are several treatments for spider veins. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that a physician injects the vein with a solution and caused the vein to eventually seal shut. Within a few weeks, the vein should collapse and disappear. Side effects include stinging at the injection site, redness, or bruising. Laser surgery is the newest trend in treating spider veins. There are no needles involved and the procedure is relatively pain free. Treatments can be done in as little as 15 minutes and patients can return to their normal levels of activity shortly thereafter. It is recommended that some form of compression stocking be worn days following the treatment to ensure success. Side effects are mild. There may be redness, some swelling of the veins temporarily and skin discoloration that fades with time.
This spring, show off your legs. Call your doctor or med spa and find out what treatments are available in your area. The only place for spiders in your life should be in their webs.