What is Scleotherapy and how many treatments will I need?
Sclerotherapy Spider Vein Treatment, West Malling, Maidstone, Kent.
Thread veins – those tiny purple clusters that show up just under the skin’s surface are commonly associated with the ageing process. However, thread veins can appear as early as during teenage years and become more visible as you age or during pregnancy. While not usually a cause for concern (though in rare cases, they may be a sign of underlying health issues), spider veins can knock your confidence – especially as they worsen over time. Here we explain how best to prevent and treat them.
What are thread veins?
Spider veins are often confused with varicose veins, but they’re actually quite different. These types of little veins are tiny broken capillaries, whereas varicose veins are larger, lumpy blue or purple that bulge at the skin’s surface. They are primarily inherited and appear as a collection of tiny red threads that sit at the skin’s surface. The cluster of vessels is web-like with a central spot and radiating vessels, which is where they get their name. They may worsen over time, and hormonal changes and lifestyle choices such as alcohol and sun exposure can contribute to this.
Are they dangerous?
While thread veins may make some people feel self-conscious, they are not harmful to physical health and pose no medical concern. However, spider veins can occasionally arise due to another medical condition like rosacea that may benefit from treatment.
Where can you get thread veins?
Spider veins can occur anywhere on your face or body, but they are prevalent in certain places such as the legs, face, and upper body.
Treating thread veins with Sclerotherapy
Few treatments will successfully eliminate spider veins. One of the most effective is sclerotherapy, which involves injecting a solution into each vein to make them collapse and cause the blood flow to stop before being redirected into the deeper veins. The treated veins turn into scar tissue and eventually fade. The treatment process is straightforward and takes approximately 15 minutes before you can continue with your day as usual.
It’s important to note that microsclerotherapy is for the treatment of thread veins in locations of the body below the heart and must not be used on the face. For thread veins above the heart, we would treat the veins with Thermavein, which uses a process known as Thermocoagulation to deliver a microwave current to the thread vein via a small needle. The current seals off the vein walls, leaving the dead vein to be naturally disposed of by your body.
How many treatments will I need?
You should expect to need more than one treatment – possibly even 3 to 4 – and these will be spaced a few weeks apart. Depending on the location of your thread veins and the size, we may treat the area with Thermavein first to reduce the risk of small vessel matting after treatment.
Can you prevent thread veins?
Since the exact cause of thread veins isn’t fully understood, it’s impossible to prevent them entirely, but some things can be done to reduce the likelihood of getting them. Several lifestyle factors can increase your risk of experiencing vein problems like obesity, lack of exercise, poor circulation, and prolonged periods of standing. Minimising these factors will reduce your likelihood of developing thread veins in the long run.
If you’d like to find out more about thread veins treatments, click here to book a consultation with a practitioner.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
