When the one-way valves are damaged, the blood moves in both directions (up and down) which causes abnormal pressures (venous hypertension) and symptoms such as leg pain, swelling, itching, cramping, heaviness, fatigue, discomfort and restless legs. The abnormal pressures can also cause varicose veins, spider veins, ulcers and skin discoloration and thickening. Symptoms can worsen over time if left untreated.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Vein Disease

Superficial venous reflux develops when the vein valves that keep blood flowing out of your legs and back to your heart become damaged or diseased. This can cause blood to gather in your legs and result in dilated or varicose veins.  

The following are common signs and symptoms of superficial venous reflux in your legs:

• Varicose veins
• Leg or ankle swelling
• Leg ulcers
• Heaviness and fatigue in your legs
• Leg pain, aching or cramping
• Burning or itching of the skin
• Restless legs
• Skin changes on your legs

Because you do not have a heart in your foot to pump blood up to your chest, veins have the difficult task of moving blood from your feet and legs up to your chest against gravity and distance. This is done with what is termed a calf muscle pump and one-way valves. As you move your legs, veins are compressed by muscles and blood moves up to the heart via the one-way valves in the veins.

FIVE EASY STEPS TO KEEPING YOUR LEGS HEALTHY

1. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time
2. Elevate your legs
3. Exercise regularly
4. Manage your weight
5. Wear graduated compression socks and stockings

Treatments for Venous Reflux / Chronic Venous Insufficiency

• Compression Therapy
• Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)
• Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy (UGS)
• Veinlite®

COMPRESSION THERAPY

This is a temporary, first-line therapy for venous reflux and vein disorders. This therapy is often used for vein disorders and as a preventative measure. Many athletes wear compression garments to gain a competitive edge.

ENDOVENOUS LASER TREATMENT (EVLT)

Endovenous laser treatment uses laser energy to close and seal faulty veins. The body responds by automatically re-routing blood flow to surrounding healthy veins. This minimally invasive procedure requires no anesthesia and results in less pain and quicker recovery time.

ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY (UGS)

This is an additional procedure recommended to patients with venous reflux who also have varicose/spider veins. Once the refluxing vein is closed, the vein branches that drain to the now closed vein have to be closed. This is necessary for two reasons: (1) to decrease the chances of recurrence and future problems; (2) to help eliminate the varicose and spider veins and their symptoms.

VEINLITE®

Veinlite utilizes a surface light to see abnormal varicose veins under the skin and then close them using foam sclerotherapy. These veins often cannot be seen on the skin with the naked eye, and because they are smaller and very close to the skin surface, they are not seen well with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy.

Treatments for Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

• Microphlebectomy
• Visual Foam Sclerotherapy
• Skin Laser Treatment
• VeinGogh® Ohmic Thermolysis
• Veinlite®

MICROPHLEBECTOMY

Microphlebectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique for removing large varicose veins using local anesthetic only. The procedure is painless and, once completed, the patient is able to resume normal activity immediately. The incisions are pin-sized, so no stitches are required and, as such, there is no scarring.

VISUAL FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY

Foam sclerotherapy involves injecting a foam sclerosant into spider veins to cause them to close down and disappear. Once the foam destroys the inner cell lining of the spider vein, the vein shuts down and the body reabsorbs it naturally. The procedure is quick and painless.

SKIN LASER TREATMENT

With skin laser treatment, the laser is applied to the outside of your skin to treat spider veins just under the skin’s surface. Skin laser treatment may be used on the legs, face and body.

VEINGOGH® (OHMIC THERMOLYSIS)

Ohmic Thermolysis treats surface spider veins and tangled, thread-like veins known as telangiectasia on the legs, face and body. The VeinGogh system uses a pen-like stylus with a hair-thin needle to deliver microbursts of controlled energy just beneath the skin but above the vein. The pulses of energy heat the vein wall, causing it to collapse.

VEINLITE®

Veinlite utilizes a surface light to see abnormal varicose veins underneath the skin and close them using foam sclerotherapy. These veins typically cannot be seen with the naked eye; and because they are smaller and very close to the skin surface, they are not seen well with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy.

What Are Spider Veins?

Just under the skin’s surface are tiny, delicate veins that are responsible for blood circulation in the face. When the walls of these veins narrow and widen suddenly, they may burst. Some of these ruptured blood vessels cannot repair themselves or go back to their normal thickness without some kind of treatment. Spider veins may be found around the nose, cheeks, and mouth, as well as on the neck, upper chest, and legs.

There are two types of broken blood vessels. The first kind is the fairly common bruising that takes the form of a purplish skin swelling. It is usually caused by some form of trauma to the skin and disappears in a couple of weeks without any treatment. The second is a blood spot that occurs just beneath the skin surface and looks like a red-colored spreading of cells. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as malnutrition, disease, and other problems that traumatize the body and the immune system.

People with fair skin are more prone to having broken capillaries than people with a darker complexion. People with dry and dehydrated skin, as well as very sensitive skin, have thinner and fewer protective layers of tissue, thus making them more susceptible to this problem.

Causes of Spider Veins

Trauma: Any form of trauma or injury to the skin can rupture blood vessels – even scrubbing your face too hard.

Aging: As you age, collagen and elastin in your skin break down, causing the skin to become thinner and veins to become more noticeable. This also causes skin to lose flexibility and bruise easily.

Genetics: If your parents or grandparents have broken facial capillaries, you have a greater chance of developing them, too.

Environment: Environmental factors like sunburns, windburns, or extremely cold conditions can lead to broken capillaries. Sun exposure is known to aggravate this problem, and you should always use sunscreen before going outdoors in the sunlight.

Hormones: People who are going through hormonal changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, may experience spider veins as their body tries to adapt. This is the reason why broken capillaries on the face are more common in women than in men.

Medical conditions: Rosacea is a condition that makes the skin red and flushed. People with rosacea tend to also suffer from broken capillaries on the face, especially around the nose and eye areas. Liver disease can also cause broken blood vessels.

Spider Vein Treatment

There are several treatments to help minimize the appearance of spider veins. Tretinoins, or vitamin A creams, build collagen at the surface of the skin, which helps minimize the visibility of broken blood vessels.

After treating spider veins, it is important to use sunscreen daily to help prevent future appearances of these unwanted blemishes. In addition, you should not scrub your face if you have spider veins, as it can cause them to spread.

If you’re concerned about spider veins, you should schedule a free consultation