Spider vein treatment

Spider veins are small superficial veins most commonly found on the legs.  Women are affected much more commonly than men.  They are purple to reddish in color and quite small measuring 0.1 to 2 mm in diameter

What treatment options are available for spider veins?

Sclerotherapy – injection of a chemical into the vein causing it to disappear.

Laser therapy – Laser energy is directed at the pigment within the vein causing it to disappear.  Most commonly an alexandrite or Nd:YAG laser is used.

Which is better for spider veins, laser or sclerotherapy?

Laser therapy only treats those veins and portions of veins visible to the laser.  There is a higher risk of hyperpigmentation afterward.

Sclerotherapy is regaining its place as the king of the treatment of spider veins.  It is time consuming and technically difficult (to do well) but treats the length of the effected vein.

How is sclerotherapy done?

A very small needle (30 gauge) is placed into the interior of the small vein with magnification.  Kind of like starting a tiny IV.  An irritant is injected slowly into the vein causing it to collapse.  The most common substances injected are hypertonic saline, Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate, and Polidocanol.

Dr. Yates currently prefers Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate.   Polidocanol was recently FDA approved for use in the U.S.

After treatment, the patient wears compression garments to decrease the swelling and inflammation.  This leads to better results and help decrease the risks of hyperpigmentation.