Spider and Reticular Veins
Spider veins are the small red, blue or purple squiggly appearing lines which may appear anywhere on the skin and have a predilection for the legs and face and may appear unsightly as they are easily visualized through the skin. While a multitude of causes have been described for spider veins, the majority of people may attribute them to heredity, obesity or long hours standing on their feet – usually due to their jobs.
Reticular veins usually appear as blue lines under the skin and are best described as veins which are larger than spider veins but smaller than varicose veins. These veins may serve as feeding vessels for spider veins.
Sclerotherapy Treatment
Sclerotherapy is the treatment method of choice for spider and reticular veins. The procedure is performed in our office as an outpatient procedure and usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
A small needle, the size of a human hair, is used to gain access into the targeted spider veins or reticular veins and a liquid or foam is injected directly into the veins, injuring the vein walls, resulting in their closure and eventual eradication. Depending on the size and number of veins, multiple sessions are usually required to achieve desired results. Over the course of a few weeks, the veins will fade in color and eventually disappear.
