Leg spider veins - also called thread veins or broken veins - are very common.
Almost 50% of adults are affected and so many people are interested in how to get rid of
these unsightly blemishes.
Well I am going to tell you 7 essential facts about leg spider veins you must know.
Number 1- What are spider veins?
Well the medical term for this condition is telangiectasia.
They are enlarged blood vessels actually in or near the skin.
They usually measure less than a millimetre and typically occur around the ankle, inner
knee area and on the outer thigh.
Number 2 - Who gets thread veins?
Well anyone can get them.
They are more common as we get older.
So for example about one in five people in their 20's have them, whereas 3 quarters of
people over 60 have them.
Both men and women are affected but in my practice I mainly see women for thread veins
as they are more likely to want to have them removed to improve the appearance of their
legs.
Number 3 - What causes them?
Well, for the majority of people with thread veins, there is a problem with the valves
of the superficial veins - either in the larger vein called the saphenous vein, or in smaller
veins called reticular veins or feeder veins.
That's why it is very important to have a duplex ultrasound scan before deciding how
to treat spider veins.
A duplex scan will identify which veins have faulty valves and how best this can be put
right.
For the remainder, there may be aggravating factors but the cause is not known.
These leg thread veins are called idiopathic.
A duplex scan is needed to make sure that people with leg spider veins are classified
correctly so they get the correct treatment.
Number 4 - What is the best treatment for leg telangiectasias?
Well firstly, any veins with faulty valves should be treated first.
So this may mean endovenous laser for the unhealthy veins.
Typically, this is performed under a local anaesthetic as a walk in walk out procedure.
Endovenous laser has replaced surgical stripping as it is less invasive and gives much better
results with no scarring.
Once the larger unhealthy veins have been dealt with, then the smaller feeder veins
and thread veins can be injected -- a treatment called sclerotherapy.
Number 5- What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the injection of a prescription medicine called a sclerosant into the broken
veins.
It works by removing the lining of the vein which then starts a healing process causing
the vein to collapse and disperse.
Number 6 - Can leg thread veins be treated with laser?
Well, laser on the legs can make thread veins worse.
Don't confuse this with endovenous laser which I mentioned earlier.
I am now talking about laser applied directly to the skin, not the laser treatment used
inside the bigger veins under the skin.
Laser cannot treat the feeder veins -- the reticular veins- and most vein experts agree
that sclerotherapy is superior to laser for the treatment of leg spider veins.
Lastly number 7 - How quickly do the broken veins fade?
Treatment of leg thread veins takes time.
Any reflux in larger veins must be dealt with first, then the feeder veins and thread veins
can be injected.
Typically 3 treatment sessions are needed with an interval of 6 to 12 weeks between
each treatment session and then there is a healing process during which the thread veins
fade.
Now although summer may seem a long way away and none of us is wearing shorts right now,
it is best to start treatment for leg thread veins as soon as possible.
If you are not sure where to find a specialist who can treat your spider veins, the British
Association of Sclerotherapists has a directory of vein experts around the UK.
The link is in the description below.
I hope you have found this useful.
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Thank you for watching.