About Sclerotherapy

Are you scared of spiders? Spider veins, that is?

Those small clusters of red, blue or purple veins on the thighs, calves and ankles frighten scores of women. It is a very common cosmetic problem easily remedied by sclerotherapy. In this procedure, veins are injected with saline - a solution that causes them to collapse ("sclerose"). The body then reabsorbs them and they fade away.

While spider veins aren't nearly as common in men as they are in women, sclerotherapy works just as well for them.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins - known in the medical world as telangiectasias or sunburst varicosities - are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it.

A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, and the use of certain medications.

Spider veins usually take on one of three basic patterns. They may appear in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point; they may be arborizing and will resemble tiny branch-like shapes; or they may be simple linear and appear as thin separate lines. Linear spider veins are commonly seen on the inner knee, whereas the arborizing pattern often appears on the outer thigh in a sunburst or cartwheel distribution.

Sclerotherapy can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. However, two or more sessions are usually required to achieve optimal results.