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Spider veins or telangiectasias are small varicose veins located just beneath the skin. They are a problem for
millions of people. You are not alone in your desire to rid yourself of these painful and unsightly veins.
They may be inherited from your parents and may worsen with weight gain, pregnancy or simply for no identifiable reason.
In many cases, spider veins are of a cosmetic concern only. In other cases, they may in fact be related to an
underlying medical problem known as venous insufficiency or reflux (backwards flow of blood in the veins). In
either situation symptoms associated with spider veins range from itching or a dull ache to throbbing pain and
bleeding.
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Sclerotherapy
Your physician will develop a treatment plan for your individual case. Spider veins can be successfully
treated with injection sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is the most popular method of eliminating spider veins.
This is the “gold standard” and is more effective and less expensive than lasers. An FDA-approved medication
called sotradecol is injected into the veins using very tiny needles.
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This solution causes an irritation to the inner lining of the vein resulting in closure of the vein. The
vein stops carrying blood and therefore disappears with time. The majority of people who have
sclerotherapy performed have satisfying results and little discomfort.
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Treatment differs from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the varicosities (size and number).
An average of three to four treatments is required in most cases to achieve a 70%-80% clearing; 100% is not
a realistic goal. The treatment sessions last approximately 15 minutes and are done at four to six week
intervals to achieve optimal results.
Sclerotherapeutic Progress
After completion of the initial series of recommended treatments, successfully treated veins are either gone
or are much less noticeable. However, patients with a history of spider veins tend to develop new ones (with
or without treatment) and a yearly touch up may become necessary. If you have leaking valves in your deep veins,
you will likely continue to develop spider veins if the underlying cause is not treated.
Sclerotherapy is a treatment for spider veins, not a cure.
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