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Sclerotherapy Used to Treat Spider Veins
"Spider veins are extremely small veins close to the skin that become dilated," says Dr. Ted Rosen, a dermatologist at Baylor College of Medicine. "Occurring most often on the legs, they tend to be grouped and look like a bunch of legs coming off a spider's body." The veins are highly visible because they range from a bright crimson red to a dark purple-blue in color. "During sclerotherapy, a hypertonic saline, or salt water, solution is injected into the vein or the group of veins," says Dr. Rosen, who is deputy chief of dermatology at The Methodist Hospital. "The solution destroys the blood vessel linings and causes the vessels to collapse." Once collapsed, the veins do not transport blood and lose the bright color the blood created. The procedure does not disrupt circulation because the veins involved are so tiny. Recovery generally requires about one day of rest with a pressure bandage on the leg. The number of treatments necessary depends on the size of the area and the number of veins involved. There is some pain during the injection, but it passes once the injection is complete. Considered a cosmetic treatment, sclerotherapy often is not covered by insurance. An average course of treatment can cost around $1,000. - From Baylor College of Medicine Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News
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