Varicose veins are quite common, affecting about 20 percent of adults, according to Informed Health. Although anyone can get them starting in their 20s, they are mostly found in women and people aged 40 and over. Your experience with varicose veins is probably either personal, as you have found them on your legs, or you know someone close to you who has them and has worried about how to get rid of them.
There are many factors that affect the likelihood of varicose veins. Age (the older you are, the more likely you are to get them), gender (as mentioned earlier, they’re more common in women), genetics and lifestyle all play a role. The first step in treating varicose veins is to recognize that the marks you see on your legs are, in fact, this particular type of vessel and not something else, such as spider veins, which are similar but different.
From there, you can begin to explore the various varicose vein treatments available to you. To learn more, keep reading as a doctor explains.
What are varicose veins?
If you wake up one day and notice a large, blue vein sticking slightly out of your leg, you may have a varicose vein. “They develop when the veins become weak and [can’t] control blood flow as it should” Joshua ZeichnerMD, FAAD, Board Certified Dermatologist and Director of Aesthetics and Clinical Research at Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Hospital, she tells POPSUGAR. “As a result, the vein itself expands and becomes visible under the skin, giving an abnormal appearance.”
Varicose veins differ from spider veins, which are much smaller and more “superficial blood vessels,” as Dr. Zeichner says. “They usually appear on the legs, as well as other parts of the body such as the face.”
There are a few factors that can lead to the development of varicose veins. “[They] they develop when the valves in the veins themselves become weak,” says Dr. Zeichner. “This may be due to genetics or excessive fluid accumulation in the legs from standing or sitting for long periods of time without movement.” They have also been associated with weight, smoking and genetics, meaning that if they run in your family, you may be more likely to get them at some point.
Varicose veins treatments
The hard part is that “once varicose veins develop, they don’t go away,” says Dr. Zeichner. This means that topical products, massage and other less invasive options are not effective. However, there are treatment options to reduce their prominent appearance: “Varicose veins can be treated with lasers, non-invasive procedures such as sclerotherapy, or surgeries where the veins are physically removed.”
In mild cases where lasers and non-invasive treatments are sufficient, your dermatologist may be able to help. in more severe cases where surgery is required, you will need to see a vascular surgeon. Although there are topical varicose vein treatment creams on the market that claim to help with this condition, Dr. Zeichner explains that unfortunately they are not very effective in getting rid of them.
According Johns Hopkins Medicine, a common treatment method is intravenous laser varicose vein surgery, which uses a heat-based laser to close the vessel. This results in scar tissue forming inside the vein, cutting off blood flow and reducing its appearance.
Sclerotherapy, as mentioned by Dr. Zeichner, is another popular treatment for varicose veins. If you’ve searched for video solutions online or on social media platforms like TikTok, you’ve probably seen it in action. According Stanford Medicine, during this procedure, a tiny needle is injected into the vein with a solution that causes them to close. As a result, they become noticeably lighter in color and even disappear from the field of view. This happens instantaneously and is very visual, which is why it is commonly shared on social media.
Whether you’re looking to seek treatment for existing varicose veins in your legs or just doing a little research knowing that they run in your family, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor. They can help match you with the best available treatment option based on your medical history and lifestyle.
