Spider Veins???
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enjoys freebies · Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:36 am Quote

Is that what you call those thin, squiggly, purple lines that appear here and there on the legs?

What can be done to remove them? some kind of laser? I only have a few, but they annoy me.

Thanks! BF

enjoys freebies · Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:19 am Quote

yes, they can be removed with laser. I haven`t done it personally but have heard it`s done without problems usually. You might want to consult a phlebologist.
I`m less lucky than you - I have varicose veins too, and these can be removed only with scalpel Sad

enjoys freebies · Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:50 am Quote

I believe diathermy is one of the best treatments for spider veins. It's a needle treatment almost similar to electrolysis. The therapist zaps away the spider veins. I had one treatment of diathermy on a couple of veins in my face 15 years ago. The veins never returned. I believe you may have to repeat the treatment on some veins, but I found it to be very effective.

You can do a search for diathermy on EDS forum.

enjoys freebies · Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:00 am Quote

Sclerotherapy is the only treatment I know of for spider veins - a saline solution is injected into the veins and then you have to wear those heavy elastic stockings for a week or so. It's a very popular and effective treatment:

This is from the ASPS website:

Spider Veins (Sclerotherapy)
Diminishing Unsightly 'Spider Veins'
Millions of women are bothered by spider veins - those small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. In fact, it's estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued with this common cosmetic problem.

Today, many plastic surgeons are treating spider veins with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are injected with a sclerosing solution, which causes them to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.

Although this procedure has been used in Europe for more than 50 years, it has only become popular in the United States during the past decade. The introduction of sclerosing agents that are mild enough to be used in small veins has made sclerotherapy predictable and relatively painless.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:45 am Quote

Spider veins are treated with laser as well. It is usually best for smaller veins. Sclerotherapy works better on medium to larger ones.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:01 am Quote

Are there not any home treatments for this? Do you think one of those long dermarollers would work? I'm starting to get them and they annoy me too.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:26 am Quote

Re topical treatment - here is a thread from EDS forum where helichrysum and some other topicals are suggested. Personally, I am not sure how much home treatments will help.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=29015&highlight=diathermy

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:30 am Quote

I’ve actually done all the methods mentioned above, over the last 10-15 years.

For leg veins I’d definitely go with schlerotherapy, but you really MUST wear the stockings afterwards for the best result. Don’t even think about those silly elastic bandages that some non-specialist docs recommend, the stockings work better. IMO it’s best to go to a place that does just schlerotherapy, rather than some general “cosmetic” doc who might only do it occasionally. I’ve had schlerotherapy done on my legs a ton of times, in different clinics/countries, and get the best results from a specialty vein clinic.. what you need are experienced young nurses with good eyesight who do this all day.

Wearing medical grade support stockings also helps and I try to wear them when sitting at the computer for long hours. Wearing them now in fact Smile

I’ve tried quite a few different styles/brands and would recommend the Mediven Elegance line in black colour. The appearance/feel is quite nice (they look like opaque black tights) and come in a good range of sizes (fit is important) and different compression levels. I’d avoid any brand in “skin” type colours as they always look like you’re wearing ugly support stockings, which kind of defeats the purpose of having nice looking legs. HTH

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:03 am Quote

appletini,

Are spider veins and leg veins the same thing? I don't really have the big leg veins.(hope not to get those)

Also, will the spider veins get bigger over time? I am going to the dermatologist in 2 weeks but I like to be informed before I go. Maybe I don't trust them? Embarassed

Also, If I do need the Mediven Elegance hose, where would I get them? TIA!

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:10 am Quote

Hi, thanks for all the comments, I am not even sure if what I have are spider veins or maybe broken capillaries?

Mine are tiny and dark purple and very thin lines..no raised veins or bulging.

I am wondering if the laser is a better option for this type? There are just so many different types of lasers and it seems that some work better for some applications.

Thanks, BF

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:59 pm Quote

I did the saline injections years ago, and it was pretty effective. However, you will find that new veins will appear after several months, so it is something you may have to do annually.
I also tried Venestat (or something like that), which is a herbal capsule which is supposed to be helpful... did nothing for me.
I also tried the vitamin K topical cream, and it was useless also!!

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:34 am Quote

My sister has IPL on her spider viens but they came back after several months so she had to have a few treatments before it completely disappered.

During the final treatments she was also weaing compression stockings and i think that helped a bit aswell.

Topically I remember her using Skin Doctors and a vitamin K cream (cant remember which one) but it didnt work for her.

Heres some information from American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/Sclerotherapy.cfm?CFID=99764720&CFTOKEN=42527206

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:35 am Quote

Gayle wrote:

Spider veins are treated with laser as well. It is usually best for smaller veins. Sclerotherapy works better on medium to larger ones.

exactly....I am having my legs done on Thursday (had them done many times) First they do the Sclerotherapy and I have to wera those itchy terrible hose for a week then I will go back and have the laser done but only have to wear stockings for 5 days...yuck!!!

Lucie

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:10 am Quote

Diathermy on smaller thread veins can give permanent results.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:00 am Quote

Yes, unfortunately leg veins will always keep appearing if you’re prone to them. I just had schlero done again, after not having it for a few years. I’m going back again two more times (six weeks or so apart) to achieve “perfection”.. then hopefully won’t need it done again for another few years. I try to keep my legs looking their best, as IMO they look much better than my face these days Laughing

Bodikein - I get my compression stockings online from a US site -
http://www.brightlifedirect.com/
There’s possibly better websites, but I use this one as they ship international. As mentioned, I like the Mediven Elegance range (usually wear the thigh high style, sometimes the knee highs) Mediven also has a Radiance line, which is supposed to be sheer, but I bought some Radiance thigh highs recently (30-40 compression level) and they’re not at all sheer on me (I do have skinny stick legs, but I buy the right size according to their measurement charts and my doc). Plus the tops of the Radiance create a strange line/bulge on my thighs which no other thigh high has done.

Unlike some brands, Mediven comes in two lengths, petite and regular, and regular is plenty long enough for me, and I’m around 5’10”. I had a problem with another brand being not long enough, stopping halfway up the thighs.
Probably best to have your legs checked by a vein doc though before buying the higher compression levels. I mostly wear the heavy duty 30-40 compression, as my doc says that’s fine for me. They’re also great to wear on long flights - you won’t get swollen feet/ankles.

Re the different types of veins, the ones in my legs are just the ordinary, flat, small reddish/purple colour type, and schlerotherapy works just fine. Some docs in the past have told me schlero wouldn’t work for such “small” veins - IMO, what they really mean is they are just too clumsy and hamfisted to do it. In my experience, a good injector at a specialist vein clinic can remove the tiniest veins with schlero.

Wow, I’ve typed a lot ... but this is an area of obsession for me Smile

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:13 pm Quote

Keliu wrote:

Sclerotherapy is the only treatment I know of for spider veins - a saline solution is injected into the veins and then you have to wear those heavy elastic stockings for a week or so. It's a very popular and effective treatment:

This is from the ASPS website:

Spider Veins (Sclerotherapy)
Diminishing Unsightly 'Spider Veins'
Millions of women are bothered by spider veins - those small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. In fact, it's estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued with this common cosmetic problem.

Today, many plastic surgeons are treating spider veins with sclerotherapy. In this rather simple procedure, veins are injected with a sclerosing solution, which causes them to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.

Although this procedure has been used in Europe for more than 50 years, it has only become popular in the United States during the past decade. The introduction of sclerosing agents that are mild enough to be used in small veins has made sclerotherapy predictable and relatively painless.

I got some red spider veins on my legs. I did not notice them until now! Now I know what spider veins are. Thanks for the article. Smile

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:14 pm Quote

saz07 wrote:

My sister has IPL on her spider viens but they came back after several months so she had to have a few treatments before it completely disappered.

During the final treatments she was also weaing compression stockings and i think that helped a bit aswell.

Topically I remember her using Skin Doctors and a vitamin K cream (cant remember which one) but it didnt work for her.

Heres some information from American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/Sclerotherapy.cfm?CFID=99764720&CFTOKEN=42527206

Do you know how much it cost your sister for all the treatments?

enjoys freebies · Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:14 pm Quote

luvyourskin wrote:

I did the saline injections years ago, and it was pretty effective. However, you will find that new veins will appear after several months, so it is something you may have to do annually.
I also tried Venestat (or something like that), which is a herbal capsule which is supposed to be helpful... did nothing for me.
I also tried the vitamin K topical cream, and it was useless also!!

Thanks for sharing your experience on what did not work!

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