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How to Treat Spider Veins Before Swimsuit Season

If you’re dealing with spider veins and you want to get rid of them before swimsuit season rolls around, there are a few different cosmetic dermatology services that you might want to try. If you’re not sure what kind of treatments are available for spider veins, here’s what you need to know.

What to Know About Spider Veins

What’s the Difference Between Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

Before we start to talk about treatment options, it’s important to understand that varicose veins and spider veins aren’t the same thing. Varicose veins are large, swollen blood vessels that can become raised. They twist and turn, and are most often seen on the legs. Spider veins, on the other hand, are still blood vessels that are visible beneath the skin, but they’re much smaller and not typically raised. These veins can commonly be seen in the face and legs, as well. So if you’re suffering from varicose veins, this might not be the right blog for you. These treatments, although they may work for varicose veins on some occasions, are described in this blog for the purpose of treating spider veins. Let’s get started.

Wear Compression Stockings

It might not seem like an effective treatment for spider veins, but wearing compression stockings is commonly used to get rid of these pesky imperfections. Compression stockings are designed to help apply pressure to your body. In turn, this pressure can move blood from your damaged veins back up to your heart. Spider veins are formed as a result of weakened valves in blood vessels. In healthy veins, blood flows only one way. With weakened valves, on the other hand, blood may begin to accumulate in the vein, putting extra pressure on its walls. When that happens, vein walls weaken. They then become overfilled and begin to show through the skin. Compression stockings can help mitigate vein wall weaknesses and improve vein function. You may still have visible leg veins, but their appearance may improve.

Consider Sclerotherapy

If you’re struggling with leg veins, sclerotherapy is one of the most common cosmetic dermatology treatment options. Typically, this treatment is only used for treating severe spider veins. During this procedure, your dermatologist will inject a chemical into the spider veins that need to be treated. This chemical irritates the vein walls and causes them to stick together. In turn, this limits blood flow. After a quick massage of the treated area, you’ll put on a pair of compression stockings, be observed for a short time, and then you’ll be able to go home. The vast majority of patients are able to return to normal daily life the day after their treatment session. For moderate to severe spider veins, sclerotherapy can dramatically improve their appearance in about six weeks. It should also be noted that multiple treatment sessions are typically required in order to achieve desired results.

Invest in Laser Therapy

Light therapies have become a large part of cosmetic dermatology treatments. From laser stretch mark removal to blue light treatment for acne and other skin rashes, laser therapy can be used for spider veins. During this treatment, your dermatologist will direct a specialized laser at the spider veins you need treated. One of the benefits of this spider vein treatment is that laser light can destroy your spider veins without damaging your skin. Some spider veins can disappear after the first treatment, but results will typically be better after multiple sessions.

Want to learn more about getting rid of your spider veins before swimsuit season? Set up a consultation with our team at North Pacific Dermatology today.

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