Spider veins, known medically as telangiectasia for smaller veins under one millimeter and reticular veins for those over one millimeter, manifest as small dilated veins near the skin's surface. While commonly found on legs and the face, these veins can cause discomfort like pain, itching, and burning. They may also indicate underlying vein disease, especially if accompanied by symptoms like aching or tiredness.
Patients with symptomatic spider veins should undergo a venous ultrasound for leg vein evaluation, while those without symptoms can receive immediate visual sclerotherapy treatment. Evansville Regional Vein Center recommends Asclera® for visual sclerotherapy, known for being less painful, with fewer side effects and enhanced effectiveness compared to older solutions like hypertonic saline.
Regarding treatment methods, visual sclerotherapy remains the treatment of choice for leg spider veins due to its effectiveness. Surface lasers have been explored but haven't proven as effective as sclerotherapy. However, for facial veins, ERVC offers laser and light-based treatments such as Sciton® ClearScan™ 1064 YAG, Sciton® BBL™ intense pulsed light, and VeinGogh XP® ohmic system, tailored to individual needs for eliminating facial veins effectively and safely.
