Month: March 2021

While many people have probably heard of varicose veins and spider veins, fewer may be familiar with reticular veins. They are the middle child of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). They are smaller than varicose veins—roughly 2mm in diameter. They also do not protrude above the skin like varicose veins.

Reticular and varicose veins do look similar in color—blue or purple. They also appear in many of the same areas of the body. The inner and back of the thigh are common spots, as well as the lower leg and ankle. Occasionally, they will appear on the face, but this is more common with spider veins.

Reticular veins will sometimes feed into spider veins. This is why they’re also called feeder veins. When they do this, they serve as a source of excess blood for the spider veins. In cases like this, removing the reticular veins can help eliminate the spider veins as well.

Reticular Vein Symptoms

Reticular veins may cause pain and discomfort in the surrounding area. They may also itch or burn at times. In rare cases, the presence of reticular veins can indicate blood backup in deeper parts of the leg.

In the majority of cases, however, reticular veins are just a cosmetic issue that can be easily treated.

Reticular Vein Treatment

One of the most common methods for treating reticular veins is sclerotherapy, also called injection therapy. Sclerotherapy works by injecting a chemical irritant into the defective vein. The irritant will make the vein swell, stick together, and eventually seal shut. Once blood flow has been shut off to the vein, scar tissue will develop inside the vessel and it will eventually fade away.

Sclerotherapy does not impair your circulation. Once all the reticular veins have been closed off, healthy blood vessels nearby will compensate for the missing veins.

Complete reticular vein removal may require more than one session of sclerotherapy. Sessions typically last 15 minutes to an hour and do not require anesthesia. After the session, you’ll need to wear bandages and compression stockings for 1-2 weeks. You may notice brown lines near the treated area, but these should also fade over time.

Note that you should have this procedure done by a medical specialist or board-certified vascular surgeon. The Vein Company has plenty of qualified physicians that are able to help. Feel free to contact us or give us a call.

Similar to varicose veins, spider veins are slightly enlarged veins that appear either blue or red. They are close to the surface of the skin and often form a web or branching pattern with short jagged lines. They commonly occur on the legs and face and can cover either a small or large area of the body.

What Causes Spider Veins?

Spider veins appear when valves inside veins become weak or damaged. When these valves aren’t working properly, blood can flow backward as it tries to move up the body. This is because veins in the legs push blood back up to the heart, working against the force of gravity.

If any blood were to flow backward, a properly working valve would stop the blood from getting too far. In the case of a weak valve, however, blood can leak back into the vein and collect (a condition called venous insufficiency). When this happens, the veins can become discolored and enlarged.

Risk Factors for Spider Veins

Spider veins can be brought on by a number of different factors.

• Age. The valves in your veins tend to become weaker the older you get.
• Hereditary. Some people are simply born with weaker valves. Those with a family history of venous insufficiency are more likely to develop it themselves. About half of all people with spider veins have a family member who also had it.
• Hormone changes. Pregnancy, menopause, and other times of hormonal changes may contribute to the forming of spider veins.
• Obesity. Being overweight can put extra pressure on your veins, causing them to have to work harder. The increased stress can lead to valve damage.
• Lack of movement. Prolonged sitting or standing can force your veins to work harder, increasing your risk of developing spider veins.
• Sun exposure. Too much sun can lead cause spider veins forming on the cheeks or nose.

Symptoms of Spider Veins

While spider veins are usually nothing more than a cosmetic issue, other symptoms include:

• Itching
• Mild burning
• Aching
• Swelling
• Heaviness
• Throbbing or cramping
• Restless leg

In rare cases, spider veins can be a sign of blood backup in deeper parts of the body. These backups can then lead to ulcers, bleeding, and blood clots.

How to Prevent Spider Veins

While spider veins are not always preventable, there are things you can do to reduce your chances of developing them.

• Wear sunscreen
• Exercise regularly
• Control your weight
• Try not to sit or stand for long stretches of time. Shifting your weight from one leg to another can help while standing. Take short breaks to walk around if you need to sit for long periods of time.
• Wear support stockings

Spider Vein Treatment

Luckily, spider veins are very treatable. To learn how The Vein Company treats spider veins, view our

Many people have asked this, as it is a legitimate question to ask. When you see varicose or spider veins your first thoughts might wonder whether or not they’re permanent, what they are, and whether or not they can be removed.

The answers can be different for different people as every patient is unique. Varicose veins are permanent. But much like other things that claim to be permanent, they can be reduced or completely removed. This outcome depends on the patient’s physiology, the length of time the varicose veins have been there, and how frequently and consistent treatments are. As far as what varicose veins are, that’s a pretty nailed down set of facts.

Characteristics of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are veins that are swollen, twisted, and can be seen beneath the surface of the skin. Typically, they occur in the legs, but they can form on many different parts of the body and for different reasons. Though a normal condition that doesn’t typically require attention, there are some symptoms that include moderate pain, skin ulcers, blood clots, and other problems.

To help the veins in your body pump blood in one direction, they are equipped with valves that are one-way. These valves or flaps essentially stop blood from flowing away from your heart. When the valves get damaged or weakened, blood backs up and pools in your veins. This is what creates varicose veins that you’re able to see through the skin.

What do Varicose Veins Mean for Me?

Typically, varicose veins are benign and don’t cause any type of medical problems. However, if your legs feel heavy often, or you feel pain in the areas around your varicose veins, you may need to be seen for diagnosis and treatment of your varicose veins. Many times, veins are treated not just to make them feel better but to make them look better.

There are various medical procedures that can assist with the discomfort and unsightly look of varicose and spider veins. Over 30 million Americans struggle with varicose veins, or the more serious form called chronic venous insufficiency, less than 7% of them actually do anything to treat the condition. If the condition persists, it could lead to more serious complications. That’s why taking care of varicose veins while they’re still small can make a huge difference down the road.

When varicose veins lead to chronic venous insufficiency, the side effects can be somewhat severe. Ranging from visible ulcers on the affected area to nighttime leg cramps, and sometimes, even to blood clots.

What Are Potential Causes of Varicose Veins?

Though heredity has something to do with the appearance and prevalence of varicose veins, oftentimes they are formed from people with conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, menopause, age, leg injuries, and repeated long sitting or standing. There are quite a few treatments that modern medicine has allowed to treat varicose veins and reduce the pain, discomfort, or look of varicose veins. The different methods of treatment today can vary. Some involve lasers, some may require small injections while others may include invasive or non-invasive treatment. The treatments offered by The Vein Company include:

• Closurefast targeted endovenous thermal ablation
• Venaseal non-tumescent, non-thermal therapy
• Micro-ambulatory phlebectomy

These treatments are minimally invasive and don’t take up a lot of time and are outpatient appointments. So you can still live your life and get reduce the look of varicose veins without inconveniencing yourself.

Most people are aware of spider veins and where they ordinarily appear – In the thighs and legs, but were you aware that they can develop in most unexpected places? Spider veins can also appear in your face, feet, and even in your hands. These pesky little blue blood vessels that we call spider veins can be seen beneath the skin. The proper name for them is telangiectasia. But that’s a mouthful, so we stick with spider veins.
 
Though there is no definitive cause for these little purply-blue nuisances, science tells us that poor circulation, hormonal imbalances (which is why they show more often in women), and good old heredity are the typical culprits. Ordinarily, these veins are invisible. But for some, they expand and show through.

No Medical Danger

Although they are sometimes not the prettiest sight to behold, spider veins are completely normal and ultimately harmless. They serve as a great cosmetic problem, though. Up to 30% of adults are said to have spider veins or varicose veins. Luckily the treatments offered by The Vein Company are non-invasive and extremely effective.

Facial Spider Veins

Also referred to as thread veins, they tend to show up anywhere on your face. Typically they’re found on the cheeks, nose, and below the eyes, but can literally show up anywhere. Rosacea and other skin diseases or infections, unfortunately, can cause spider veins to appear on your face. This stems from the irritation sustained by the skin on your face from the extra pressure on the veins.

Another huge culprit in spider veins, or thread veins, on the face, can be too much sun exposure. The free radicals can cause spider veins to appear and even exacerbate the veins. Of course, smoking is something that can damage the veins and has been proven to cause early aging of the skin, therefore making the spider veins more prominent.

Spider Veins in Feet

Just like in other parts of your body, spider veins can form in your feet as well. It’s important that the spider veins in your feet are attended to before they become varicose veins and cause more pain and discomfort, or become a problem for the circulatory system. Though they start as an aesthetic flaw, they can turn into a debilitating structural problem that can persist through your later years.

Veins in Hands

As we get older our hands tend to get more veins. Sometimes it looks normal, other times its tiny blue and purple spider veins that make their way to the visible surface. The lack of fatty and/or elastic tissue can lead to thinner skin just atop the bones of your hand. So the veins become more prominent and much easier to notice and see. This process is quite normal and there isn’t really anything that can be done to avoid it. As soon as these veins are treated will be when they don’t show anymore. However, the sooner they are treated, the less complicated the procedure will be.

The experts and technicians at The Vein Company can assess the condition of your spider veins and help remove them and alleviate the symptoms that come with them. Early detection can also lead to the avoidance of them turning into varicose veins.