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DISCUSSION
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BY MELISSA TATE WITT
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It may be winter, but many of us are already thinking about warmer weather. And warmer weather brings with it shorts and swimsuits. Losing those extra pounds you gained over the holidays may not be the only thing on your mind at this point. You may also be worried about those unsightly spider veins!
ost of the time, spider veins are not dangerous but more of an issue of appearance. They most commonly occur on the legs or the face but can also be found around other parts of the body. Sometimes, they can be painful, with dull aching and cramping sensations. Although medical attention is sometimes needed to eliminate complications, spider veins may simply be an indicator of a lifestyle change that needs to take place.
SIMPLE REMEDIES: Purchase compression stockings. Available at many pharmacies and medical supply stores, compression stock ings come in various styles including belowthe-knee, above- the-knee and full-length pantyhose styles. They also come in different compressions varying from 8 to 10 mmHg up to 40 to 50 mmHg. It is best to talk to your doctor about what may be right for you.
Practice healthy skin habits. Wear sunscreen to help prevent spider veins f r om app e a r i ng on t he fac e. T h i s i s especially important for those of us that are fair-skinned. Lose the excess weight. More weight equals more pressure on those veins. And where does most of that pressure go? You guessed it! To our legs. Those veins in our legs work the hardest, so keep your weight within its healthy range.
Eat a low salt, high-fiber diet. Too much sodium brings on swelling that will only irritate those veins. Eating high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, keeps things in flow.
Exercise regularly. Improve your leg strength and blood circulation through those veins by focusing on exercises that work your legs such as walking or running.
Avoid long periods of sitting or standing. Take breaks during those times you are stuck sitting or standing for a long time. Take a quick walk or do a few jumps to keep your blood moving.
Elevate your legs while sitting and sleeping. When you can, prop up those legs a little higher than your heart.
BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS: Although there are many medical treatments available from lasers to stripping of the veins, Sclerotherapy is the most common and effective treatment for both spider veins and varicose veins. A needle is used to inject a liquid chemical into the vein that causes the vein walls to swell, stick together and seal shut. This stops the flow of blood, and the vein turns into scar tissue. Within a few weeks, the vein should fade. This treatment does not require anesthesia, can be done in a doctor's office and is fairly inexpensive. If additional treatments are needed, they can be done every four to six weeks. Possible side effects of Sclerotherapy may include some swelling and irritation around the injection point, but this normally goes away shortly after treatment.
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Smaller than varicose veins that are usually swollen and coiled above the skin, spider veins are capillaries that appear red or blue near the surface of the skin in a clustered spiderweb type fashion. Spider veins affect around half of all Americans, and while the true cause for them is unknown, many factors may contribute to the development of this back up of blood including genetics, excess weight, age, injuries, sun exposure, pregnancy and hormones.
Want to learn more? Check out womenshealth.gov for more information about the causes and treatment of spider veins.