When you think of spider veins, you usually think of a specific part of the body – the legs. What many of us forget is that your legs aren’t the only area where these unsightly little blood vessel anomalies can show up. Surprise! Here are 3 places spider veins may develop besides your legs:
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- Your face, especially around the nose and cheeks, which can be caused by smoking, sun exposure, or other conditions such as Rosacea.
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- Your arms and hands due to the thinning of skin and loss of fat.
- Your feet which could be a signal that you will experience varicose veins.
Obviously, these aren’t places that are easy to hide unless you’re willing to wear long sleeves, gloves, and a ski mask out into the world each day! You can cover them with makeup, a time-consuming daily task, but you have permanent solutions worth considering as well.
Related Read: Vein Treatment at Any Age
Are You a Good Candidate for Treatment?
Spider veins are not just an age-related problem. They can appear on bodies young and old, and though they’re not medically dangerous, they cause many people — especially women — a great deal of emotional distress. Women get them more often than men do, and people who spend a lot of time on their feet are also more susceptible. If any of the following scenarios sound like something you’re experiencing, consider seeing a vein specialist for an evaluation and to discuss treatment options:
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- You have visible veins on your legs or thighs that have a web-like or branching pattern.
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- You have a branching pattern on your face that you usually try to cover up with makeup.
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- You believe your spider veins are making you look older than you are, or they’re otherwise undermining your self-confidence.
- You avoid wearing shorts or bathing suits in the summertime because you’re embarrassed by your spider veins
Related Read: IAC Vascular Testing Accreditation Earned by Vein Clinic of Greater Kansas City
Treatment Options
There are two ways to treat spider veins. Neither is invasive, nor does either of them require any downtime:
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- Laser Therapy – This is a good option for small to medium-sized spider veins, especially the facial variety. While you’re being treated, the doctor will cover your eyes to protect them from the laser. The doctor then passes a laser-emitting wand or hand-piece over the affected areas. The blood absorbs the laser light, causing the veins to clot and be absorbed by the body. Afterwards, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays by using sunscreen faithfully and generously. While there’s no downtime, there may be some short-lived side effects like reddened skin, blistering or slight bruising. You’ll probably need several treatments to completely eradicate the problem.
- Sclerotherapy – This is a procedure that is typically used for larger spider veins on the legs or other parts of the body. The doctor injects a treatment solution into veins with a micro-needle. This causes the vein to shrink, turn white, and eventually disappear. If the treatment is on your legs, your doctor may ask you to wear compression stockings afterwards to maximize results. Because the needles used are tiny, there is little — if any — discomfort, and no downtime. As with laser treatment, results are not instantaneous, and you’ll need a few treatments for permanent results.
If you’ve got a problem with spider veins and you’d like to learn more about treatment in the Kansas City area, schedule an appointment with us.
