Spider Veins Specialist

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are tiny blue, red, or purple lines on your skin. The veins are flat and typically appear in your legs but also can appear elsewhere.

Spider veins are a common sign of a problem with the normal functioning of your vein. In some cases, spider veins form when one of the valves inside your veins doesn’t close properly. This causes blood to leak and get stuck in the vein.

Left untreated, spider veins can build up enough pressure to weaken the vein walls, allowing the spider veins to spread and grow larger.

In some cases, spider veins turn into varicose veins, which are large, twisted, more bulbous-looking veins. Varicose veins may have a rope-like appearance under your skin and can feel painful at times. Spider veins, in contrast, typically don’t cause pain or discomfort.

What causes spider veins?

Although the precise reason for spider veins is unknown, they’re generally thought to be caused by hormonal factors.

That may explain why spider veins most commonly occur in women, particularly during pregnancy. Aging and obesity also increase your likelihood of getting spider veins.

How are spider veins treated?

Your doctor at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine often recommends a nonsurgical treatment called radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to close your spider vein, minimizing its appearance.

The treatment is very effective, with one study finding radiofrequency ablation worked about 88% of the time.

What happens during radiofrequency ablation?

Your treatment area is first numbed to minimize any discomfort. Then, your doctor makes a tiny incision and inserts a very narrow tube into your vein. Radiofrequency energy travels through the tube and into your vein, heating it.

The process makes your body form scar tissue, which closes the vein. The treatment isn’t painful. However, you may feel prickling or burning sensations on your skin.

You’ll wear compression stockings for about a week to make sure the vein has closed properly. As your vein closes, it becomes less and less noticeable.

What are the benefits of radiofrequency ablation?

The treatment is quick and doesn’t require surgery. Other advantages include:

• No general anesthesia
• No sutures or stitches
• Little to no discomfort
• Minimal downtime

The treatment is also covered by most insurance plans. If you’re looking for nonsurgical options to be free of spider veins, call Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine today or schedule a consultation online.