The Lowdown On Spider Veins And How To Remove Them For Good

Spider and varicose veins are protrusions that appear beneath the skin and can mar your otherwise flawless lower limbs. These bulges are actually swollen and twisted blood vessels¹ that appear at the ankles, feet, and legs and stem from the vein valves not working properly or having weak vein walls, resulting in blood backing up in the veins. Although they can be uncomfortable and unsightly, varicose veins are rarely dangerous. However, they can be severe in some cases and lead to serious health complications like blood clots.

Why our veins turn visible

Varicose veins primarily result from weakened one-way valves inside damaged vein¹. In healthy veins, these valves push blood in a single direction – back to the heart. But once weakened, these valves may let some blood flow backwards, causing them to accumulate in the vein. The extra blood that gets stuck then puts extra pressure on the vein walls until they weaken, causing the bulge that we now see as varicose veins. Besides this increased pressure in the veins, there are reasons why vein walls and their valves become weak, including²:

Ageing
Excessive weight
Hormones
Restrictive clothing

Anyone can develop varicose veins, with certain factors increasing their likelihood of developing varicose veins²:

Family history: Varicose veins are a condition that can run in families.
Lifestyle: Sitting or standing for too long reduces blood circulation.
Gender: Female hormones can stretch the walls of veins. Women taking birth control, pregnant, or going through menopause experience changes in their hormone levels, making them at higher risk of developing varicose veins.
Tobacco use: Smoking also increases the risk of varicose veins.

Common treatments for leg veins

1. Laser treatments

Laser treatment is the most common method dermatologists use to treat varicose veins and spider veins, and it involves directing laser light to destroy the affected veins. After the treatment, the smaller spider veins often immediately disappear while the larger varicose veins darken and take one to three months¹ before vanishing.

It usually takes three or more laser treatments to fully remove all the varicose veins in the body. Most patients can return to their daily activities the next day after treatment but must wear compression stockings for a short while. Keeping the treated area away from sunlight for three to four weeks is important to ensure dark spots do not develop.

2. Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy treats unwanted spider and varicose veins by injecting a sclerosant into the affected area which causes inflammation and blood coagulation. It causes vein walls to stick together to prevent blood from flowing through, improving circulation in the treated area and reducing swelling.

Small varicose veins typically disappear between three to six weeks after sclerotherapy, while the bigger varicose veins take up to four months. It generally takes two or three treatments to get the best results, but thankfully the procedure is relatively simple, with no anaesthesia required.

3. Compression stockings

Compression stockings help to get your blood moving back to the heart² by applying steady pressure to the legs, reducing swelling and the risk of developing a blood clot. However, they do nothing to remove visible leg veins. Consulting a dermatologist is essential to get the compression stockings that fit you and provide the right amount of pressure.

Conclusion

Leg veins are swollen blood vessels that cause unsightly bulges near the skin’s surface. Although treatments for this condition are effective, they can return after some time, especially among those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are obese, and women who get pregnant after treatment.

If unwanted spider and varicose veins are getting in your way, book an appointment at Angeline Yong Dermatology, where Dr Yong can provide you with a personalised treatment plan to reduce unwanted leg veins. A consultation with an experienced dermatologist can also allow for an in-depth diagnosis that determines whether you have a severe case of varicose veins and whether it can be addressed with laser treatments or other appropriate solutions before it develops into a more serious health issue.

Contact us at any time for advice and additional information about our other services, including laser tattoo removal, chemical peels, and skin cancer screening in Singapore.

References

Why leg veins appear and how they are treated. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2023, from https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/younger-looking/how-dermatologists-treat-leg-veins

Varicose veins: causes, symptoms, treatment options, prevention, etc. Cleveland Clinic. (2021, December 29). Retrieved June 15, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4722-varicose-veins

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The Lowdown On Spider Veins And How To Remove Them For Good