How to treat varicose veins
Unsightly veins are a common problem that can be both a health concern and a cause of embarrassment for the sufferer.
The health concerns that are often caused by problem veins such as varicose veins, spider/thread veins include aching, night cramps, heaviness of the leg and itchiness all of which can cause considerable discomfort for the sufferer.
They are abnormally enlarged veins that bulge beneath the skin. They can be flesh coloured, dark purple or blue and are usually found on the backs of the calves or the inside of the leg.
As the role of the veins is to carry blood towards the heart, in order to do this, the blood has to flow upwards against gravity, so it is helped along by a series of muscle contractions and one-way valves.
If the valves become weak or break they don’t close properly and the blood flows back to the legs, where over a period of time the veins will start to bulge. These damaged veins serve no purpose, as their job is taken over by other veins. This means it’s perfectly safe to remove them.
Around one in five people will develop varicose veins as they get older, and women are affected more than men. Risk factors include age, genes, being overweight and standing for long periods of time. Pregnancy can also cause, or exacerbate, varicose veins.
There are two main treatment options for varicose veins. The first is called stripping, and is carried out under general anaesthetic. It involves making an incision at the top of the leg and literally pulling out the defected vein.
The second option is carried out under local anaesthetic and is called EVLT (Endovenus Laser Treatment). EVLT uses short laser pulses to seal the faulty vein off from the surrounding blood supply. With the blood flow cut off, the pressure causing the swelling and aches and pains is immediately alleviated, and the defunct vein is re-absorbed into the body.
Dr Kyriakides, vascular consultant at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, who performs the EVLT treatment says: “EVLT is a big advancement on the stripping technique. The fact that it is carried out under local anaesthetic means that the recovery time is far quicker, and because we use a laser to seal off the defected vein, there are no large incisions and no risk of scarring.”
Spider veins - which are also known as, thread veins, broken veins and capillary veins - are small red, blue or purple veins that usually appear near the surface of the skin on the thighs, calves and ankles. They may also appear across the nose or cheeks.
Although most people seek treatment for cosmetic reasons, research has shown that the majority of people with leg thread veins may also have underlying vein problems. These can either be minor or major varicose veins, very often not visible from the surface, but can be found with an ultrasound scan of the legs.
There are two options for treating spider veins; sclerotherapy and the CoolGlide laser treatment.
Sclerotherapy is best suited for treating spider veins on the legs. It uses a solution which when injected into the vein causes it to collapse and fade. The CoolGlide laser treatment is best for treating veins on the face and under the eyes. CoolGlide involves directing an intense light at the veins causing the blood flow to be diverted to veins deeper below the surface of the skin where it should be.
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