You're So Vein? When to See the Doc

Put your flats on, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. by Sharon Hall


We weren't all born with long, lean gams. And try as we might, our legs (like our faces, dammit) will also show the signs of aging.  But, spotting the difference between cosmetic changes and the tell tale signs of vein disease just might be more important that you thought. 

According to Dr. Perry R. Bubis, renowned vascular surgeon and author of Wish I Knew That: All You Need to Know About Veins Before You See Your Doctor, "...more than 80% of women will develop vein disease at some time in their lives."  There is no clear medical cause for vein disease, but heredity, gender (yep, of course women are four times more likely than men to develop spider or varicose veins), pregnancy and lifestyle seem to be contributing factors.

Itsy Bitsy Spider (Veins)

Many women past a certain age have tiny little visible veins on their legs.  And while unsightly, these "spider veins" are simply broken blood vessels.  Purple in color, they are usually twisted and clustered and show because they are near the surface of the skin.

Standing for long periods can cause your blood to pool in your leg veins, causing them to enlarge. And of course, we can blame age once again because as we get older our skin gets thinner so these lovely little tendrils become more apparent.  And, smoking, excess weight, and pregnancies can add to their severity.

The real cause of spider veins is not known but they are more prominent in obese individuals, females, individuals who are on their feet for prolonged periods, minor trauma, pregnancy and perhaps use of contraceptives. There may be a familial component to these veins (thanks, mom). In general, any condition that will increase pressure in the veins, can lead to spider veins.

Treatment
There are two common treatments for spider veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a liquid agent through a tiny needle directly into the spider veins, causing them to contract and collapse. This procedure is best suited for medium to large spider veins because it relies upon fitting a tiny needle into a tiny vein. The procedure is performed in the office by a doctor or nurse and is relatively painless. Depending on the number of spider veins, the procedure may require five minutes to one hour. Afterward, you will wear ace bandages or compression hose for three to ten days as recommended by your doctor. 

Spider veins can also be treated with lasers, during which a laser is applied to the skin over your spider veins. Laser energy causes your spider veins to coagulate and shrink. Laser therapy is most effective for small and medium size spider veins. Large spider veins respond poorly and are best treated with sclerotherapy. You are likely to experience mild discomfort similar to having a small rubber band snapping against skin. Treatments usually do not require sedatives, pain medications, or injections of local anesthetic.

Varicose Veins - Very Close Veins is more like it.

Those ugly, bulging, blue or purplish veins – well, those are varicose. And surprise, surprise, aging is a factor again. The valves in our veins weaken over time, which may cause veins to collect blood and dilate and pop up to show their ugly little faces.

For the most part, varicose veins don’t cause discomfort. But an unlucky few experience achiness or heavy feeling in their legs and even burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in the lower legs. Some patients report a sensation of itching around the veins in the legs.

"Primary vein problems (varicosities in the superficial veins) are the most common and often follow a family genetic tendency. Secondary vein disease (those in the deep veins) can result from many types of injuries to the legs, and, once corrected, it never reoccurs unless the leg is re-injured."  says Dr. Bubis

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