What are spider veins?
Spider veins can be embarrassing and can make you feel insecure about the appearance of your legs. Medically called telangiectasias, spider veins are very small – usually less than a millimeter – venules (very small veins, usually collecting blood from capillaries) located just below the surface of the skin. They are easy to distinguish and are usually red or blue in color.
What causes spider veins?
There are many causes of spider veins. some are congenital and others are from injuries to the area such as burns, trauma, chemicals or radiation. Some symptoms are secondary to other systemic problems such as vasculopathy – inflammation of the blood vessels.
The most common reason for spider veins is from malfunctioning veins that have reflux, or blood flowing backwards, which puts more pressure on the veins and causes them to dilate.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include aching or pain in the legs, but spider veins usually do not cause symptoms. the underlying problem that caused the spider veins in the first place is usually the cause of the symptoms. For example, in venous reflux, you may experience pain or swelling in your legs as well as fatigue and heaviness with prolonged activity or sitting. Spider veins do not cause these symptoms, but can be seen as another sign of venous reflux.
Ohio State Diagnosis
Specialists at Ohio State University Medical Center will review your medical history and perform a physical exam, which will include questions about your health and an assessment of possible symptoms. After your examination, our team of doctors will discuss the possible causes of spider veins. If there are symptoms related to your spider veins, our specialists will perform further diagnostic tests, such as a double vein study (ultrasound). This is a painless, non-invasive test that shows how blood is moving through your arteries and veins. The test examines the structure of your blood vessels and indicates whether there are blockages in your arteries.
Spider vein treatment
Spider veins can be treated with sclerotherapy. These are drug injections that can be done in our clinic. The procedure involves a tiny needle being inserted into the veins to deliver medicine that will cause the veins to close and fade. You should then wear compression leggings or clothing. Most patients can drive themselves to and from the clinic for the procedure and will be able to resume their normal activities.
Why Choose Ohio State?
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is an academic medical center, which means our patients benefit from innovative research, depth of medical expertise, and the latest available technologies and treatment techniques.
We offer all minimally invasive techniques to treat spider veins, including intravenous laser therapy, radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy. We can perform these procedures in our outpatient office, allowing you a quick visit and recovery time.
