Sclerotherapy
Before and after treatment Before and after treatment Before After (Above photos courtesy of Center for Laser Surgery, Washington DC)	Sclerotherapy is a safe, non-surgical method of removing spider and varicose veins from the legs. Spider veins are tiny purple or red blood vessels that appear just below the skin's surface on the face or legs.  Larger blood vessels, called varicose veins, appear on the legs.  They are bluish in color and can be raised and painful.   Spider and varicose veins can affect women, or men, but they are more commonly seen in women due to hormonal changes.  Other causes include heredity, weight gain, certain medications, local trauma, sun exposure and prolonged sitting/standing.  While these veins contain blood, they are not part of the venous valve system and are not necessary to healthy circulation.     Treatment involves the injection of a sclerosing solution via tiny needles directly into each vein.  The solution irritates and destroys the inner lining of the vessel, causing it to disappear gradually over a period of weeks.  An average of 50 to 70 percent of vessels can be permanently eliminated  with a series of treatments.   Each session takes about 20 minutes, during which time multiple injections are administered.  It typically takes several sessions, repeated at three-to four-week intervals, to achieve the desired results.   Sclerotherapy requires no anesthetic or sedation.  The needles are so fine that the discomfort is minimal.  Some patients feel a burning sensation that quickly subsides.     Following treatment, you may need to wear special compression stocking in order to keep pressure on the veins.  Normal activities can generally be resumed within 24 hours.  Walking is encouraged for the promotion of blood flow through other veins.  Bruising of the treated areas usually disappears within a week.  Final results may not be visible for several months.   Call Arcadia Dermatology and schedule a consultation to find out if you are a candidate for sclerotherapy