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Although similar, varicose veins and spider veins are
slightly different. Varicose veins are often considered the more unsightly of
the two only because they bulge. Spider veins, on the other hand, are smooth to
the touch. They are red, purple, or bluish veins that branch out almost like a
tree. Neither one of them are particularly attractive, which is why I wanted to
offer some solutions for getting rid of them.
But before I go through my list of treatment options, I
wanted to talk a little bit about the cause of varicose/spider veins. Lack of
blood circulation is mostly to blame. Malfunctioning valves cause blood to flow
backwards into the vein, which results in vein enlargement and discoloration.
Fortunately, there are solutions available.
1. Exercise
If you catch it early enough, you may be able to prevent
these veins from forming by getting plenty of exercise. Cardio in particular
helps improve blood flow circulation, which can help alleviate some of the
aches and cramps that are associated with malfunctioning valves.
2. Sclerotherapy
This is only an option for spider veins and small varicose
veins. The procedure involves injecting a small amount of sclerosing solution
into the vein. This causes the lining of the vein to seal shut, which
eradicates the vein.
3. Ambulatory Phlebectomy
The best part about ambulatory phlebectomy is that it is
minimally invasive and doesn’t require any stitches. Doctors put patients
undergo local anesthesia and remove the veins through tiny slit-like
incisions.
4. Endovenous laser treatment
This is by far the quickest of all the treatment options as
it can be performed in less than an hour. A laser is used to close the vein
entirely. Don’t worry, this doesn't pose any health risks. Blood is simply
rerouted through other, healthier veins.
5. Compression therapy
In addition to exercise, using a pump or getting massages
can help stimulate blood flow in the affected area. Although it is one of the
cheaper solutions, it’s not the most effective.
I hope this helps any of you out there who are struggling
with this issue.
Trust me, I feel your pain! I have some spider veins forming
in my legs. I’m writing this post because I’m looking into treatment options
myself!
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