04/30/10

Leg Veins: Causes and Treatments

Spider veins are small enlarged superficial blood vessels that appear at the skin surface as red or blue. Spider veins commonly occur on the legs. These dilated blood vessels may be short, unconnected hair-like lines, or connected in a "sunburst" pattern. Sometimes, spider veins occur in a small area and aren't very noticeable. Other times, they can cover a large area of skin and be very unattractive. Larger dilated blood vessels (called reticular veins) may appear blue or green through the skin’s surface and often occur along with spider veins.

Physiologically speaking, leg veins are a result of valvular insufficiency of the veins in the legs. Causes of valvular insufficiency can include inheritance pattierns, hormones, standing immobile for extended periods of time, crossing the legs for extended periods of time, excessive weight, pregnancy or trauma.

Sclerotherapy is injection therapy for spider veins and larger reticular veins of the leg. The procedure is simple. Veins are injected with a solution which causes the veins to collapse and fade from view. The number of treatments depends on the amount and severity of your condition and the results that you hope to achieve.