One of the more common cosmetic consults that we conduct center on leg veins. The veins in our legs fight against gravity as they work to return blood to the heart. As we age, our veins lose their elasticity. Valves become weak, and we experience a back-flow of blood just beneath the skin. This is how we develop varicose and spider veins.
Often a cause of cosmetic concern for our patients at Skin Wellness Dermatology of Alabama, the increased visibility of veins is something we can address as skilled dermatologists in one of our comfortable offices in Birmingham and Chelsea. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Who Is At Risk.
You are more likely to develop prevalent veins if you are female, aging, overweight, work long hours on your feet, or are experiencing the hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy or menopause.
2.The Benefits of Treatment.
Often identified as enlarged, twisted veins seen predominantly on the legs, varicose veins often look dark blue or purple and may be accompanied with a feeling of burning or itching in your legs. You may also feel fatigued from poor blood flow. By treating varicose veins, we can reduce the pressure in your legs and prevent the development of additional spider veins.
3. Eliminating Visible Veins.
At Skin Wellness Dermatology of Alabama, the gold standard treatment for varicose and spider veins is sclerotherapy. In this non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure, we inject a series of solutions into the veins that will gradually cause them to collapse and vanish. The only discomfort you may feel during sclerotherapy is a mild stinging sensation, which will disappear within 20 minutes of completing the session.
4. Post-Procedure Instructions.
Our patients are free to return to normal activities the same day as treatment, but it is imperative you wear medical grade compression stockings for a week. These can be purchased at a pharmacy or medical supply store. Because the stockings may only be removed for bathing, it may be ideal to schedule your sclerotherapy in the cooler fall or winter months.
5. Follow-Up.
Depending on your ethnicity and skin type, four to eight weeks after your initial treatment we may perform a touch-up session, because patients with darker skin may find that the destruction of the vessel leaves behind hyper-pigmented skin.
While varicose and spider veins can be hereditary or inevitable with age, we suggest you can help prevent their development with regular low-impact exercise, elevating your legs at the end of the day, changing from a sitting to a standing position regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight.
To schedule an appointment with our specialists to discuss how Skin Wellness Dermatology of Alabama can help free you of your existing veins, call us at (205) 871-7332 to learn more.