Spider veins are small and twisted blood vessels visible through the skin. They are red, blue, or purple and appear in the form of webs or branches and commonly develop on your legs. In most cases, spider veins New York are not painful or harmful, but you may wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons. These veins occur when the valves in your veins become damaged, and blood does not flow back to your heart, leading to blood pooling in your veins. People associate spider veins with many myths and misconceptions, which include:
1. Spider veins only develop due to old age
Although aging is one risk factor for spider veins, it is not the only cause. Spider veins can develop in your early twenties. Hereditary factors, gender, pregnancy, poor lifestyle, overweight, and history of leg trauma are other causes of spider veins.
2. Spider veins only occur in women
Spider veins can affect anyone. Despite the condition affecting many women, it also affects men. Studies show about forty-five percent of patients with spider veins are men. Family history and lifestyle factors are the common cause of spider veins in both genders.
3. Spider vein treatment is painful
Vein treatment procedures were painful in the past, involving general anesthesia and difficult recovery periods. Recently, several modern methods for spider treatments have come up. The improved treatment procedures have no or minimal discomfort and involve quick recovery times.
4. Surgery is the only treatment for spider veins
Even though surgery can be used to treat spider veins, there are many other treatment options. In most cases, your doctor will use non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques that involve less pain to treat your spider veins. The non-surgical methods need short recovery time.
5. Spider veins do not cause symptoms
More than half of patients with spider veins show symptoms. Pain in the legs after standing for long periods, heaviness, tension, and swelling are the common symptoms of spider veins. They cause blood to back up inside the vein leading to blood clots in rare cases.
6. Crossing legs lead to spider veins
Although, as a woman, you may find it comfortable to cross your legs when sitting down, this does not cause spider veins. Sitting for long periods with or without crossing your legs increases the risk of developing spider veins or worsening symptoms.
7. It is not worth treating spider veins in older adults
Besides the aesthetic aspect, there are medical reasons to treat spider veins. Sometimes spider veins may cause a lot of discomfort and blood clots leading to severe complications. Gentle treatment methods such as Sclerotherapy do not require general anesthesia and are appropriate for older people.
8. There are no effective treatments for spider veins
There are many effective treatments for spider veins, and Sclerotherapy is the best known. Sclerotherapy involves your doctor injecting a chemical agent into the affected veins that causes the walls to swell and stick together. The spider vein disappears as remnants are absorbed in the nearby tissue.
Spider veins are treatable, so your doctor will use the procedure that best suits you. Schedule an appointment at Upper East Side Cardiology for spider veins treatment to eliminate your discomforting symptoms.
