Broken Capillaries

Aside from wrinkles and sagging skin, spider veins are another telltale sign of aging. These can appear on the face, chest, arms, and legs, and can take some of the fun out of summertime as bathing suits and shorts may be too exposing. Spider veins can be embarrassing, and many people who suffer from them do not want to expose them any more than necessary, sticking to pants and long-sleeved shirts even in high temperatures. Spider veins don’t need to be a permanent condition, however. Effective and safe treatments for spider veins have been around for years.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are the small, highly visible veins that branch off of a main root vein. These veins are numerous and can be seen easily through the skin. They are normally blue, red, or purple, and unlike normal veins, they twist and turn. Spider veins can be caused by a variety of factors, including jobs which involve a lot of standing, trauma, pregnancy, obesity, and heredity. These are unnecessary and unsightly, and can cause self-consciousness and embarrassment.

Spider veins are more common in women than in men, and affect anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of the population. They tend to appear in older women and men, although they can affect people at younger ages too. Sometimes they can be controlled through wearing compression stockings, but there are other options available for people who want smooth and spider vein free skin.

Treatments in the Extremities

The most popular spider vein treatments are sclerotherapy and laser therapy. Depending on your individual case, a customized treatment plan will be determined by your dermatologist in order to obtain the best results. Dr. Melda Isaac and Dr. Daniel Yanes at the MI Skin Dermatology Center in Washington DC is a leading expert in treating this condition, and she will make sure to customize your treatment plan so that you are completely satisfied.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a popular and effective method of treatment. Sclerotherapy has been around since the 1930s, and the technology has only advanced since then. Sclerotherapy works by using a medicine called a sclerosing agent to dissolve the unnecessary veins, which are then absorbed by the body. Sclerotherapy is completely safe when performed by an experienced dermatologist, like Dr. Isaac and Dr. Yanes in Washington DC, and will leave you with smoother skin.

Downtime is minimal with sclerotherapy. You can resume low-impact activities immediately after a sclerotherapy procedure, while high-impact activities are restricted for 24 to 78 hours after spider vein treatments. Compression stockings are recommended to be worn for two to six weeks following treatments.

Laser Therapy

Although Dr. Isaac feels sclerotherapy is the gold standard for treatment of leg veins, she sometimes uses the Derma V laser to treat spider veins in the legs at Mi Skin Dermatology Center in Washington DC. This laser works by shooting intense pulses of light into the veins. The surrounding skin is unaffected, but the laser light is absorbed by the blood vessels, which then coagulate and are absorbed into the body. Laser therapy is safe and effective, with minimal downtime and side effects. Multiple treatments are required so schedule your treatment in Washington DC so you can look your best before getting into those shorts, skirts and bathing suits!

Treatments for the Face

The face is a more delicate area, and spider vein treatments in the face must be treated accordingly. BBL, V-beam and Derma V lasers are good options for treating facial spider veins. Intense Pulsed Light uses a range of wavelengths that target both brown and red discoloration in the skin. V-beam and Derma V lasers are non-ablative, gentle lasers that target vascular problems including spider veins with specific powerful, wavelengths of light. There is minimal downtime following a BBL, V-beam and Derma V laser treatments, and side effects are limited to some redness or swelling for a few hours to a few days following treatment.

To learn more about vein treatments, please visit our vein FAQ page.

Schedule a Skin Care Consultation Today!

If you are suffering from spider veins, you don’t have to live with them. Find out more about the safe and effective methods for treatment by calling the MI Skin Dermatology Center in Washington DC today! To get more information and make your spider vein appointment, call (202) 393-7546.