But this summer when you broke out your swimsuit or shorts and looked down at your legs and ankles, there was something probably scarier than an actual spider — spider veins.
Ugh. You know spider veins as those squiggly purple, red, or blue lines weaving their way around your legs and face. If your Mom had spider veins, it’s likely you will have them, too. Also, it’s thought that if your job keeps you on your feet a lot, you’re more prone to developing them. Plus, simple aging, as our tissues lose some of their support strength is thought to be a culprit behind spider vein development.
Have no fear, Dr. Musick can get rid of those pesky spider veins with sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is nothing new; it was first developed for treatment of spider veins in the 1930s. Despite its nearly 90 years of practice, sclerotherapy is still the best way to deal with spider veins. Dr. Musick believes it to be the superior solution compared to lasers, particularly for smaller spider veins on the legs. Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure that is quick and basically painless.
A sclerosant solution is injected into each vein selected for treatment. Dr. Musick typically uses hypertonic saline. Once injected into the spider vein, the sclerosant solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to swell and the blood in it to clot. Once that happens, the vein turns into scar tissue and fades away with time, usually over two to three months. In some cases, the vein virtually disappears instantly upon injection. For most veins, a single treatment is all that’s needed.
Recovery
Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical treatment that doesn’t require a recovery period. Dr. Musick has patients wear compression stockings or hose for up to two weeks following their treatment, and walking is encouraged. But there isn’t really any pain. You should also avoid prolonged sitting, standing, or pounding types of exercise, however.
Want to ditch the spiders and leave them to some October Monster Madness Marathon on the AMC network? Fall is a great time to have Dr. Musick take care of your spider veins. That way your legs will be ready to go when the weather warms up again next May. Call us at (618) 628-2588 to schedule your spider vein session.