Varicose or spider veins are commonly thought of as only cosmetic issues, but these conditions can be a manifestation of underlying vein disease. They are often associated with clinical symptoms including itching, pain, heaviness, burning sensation, swelling and leg cramps, which impact your daily life. Charlotte Radiology Vein Center specialists can help evaluate your veins and offer treatments to get rid of your symptoms and visible varicose veins.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are twisted, swollen veins that bulge from the skin surface, and are often blue or red in color. Varicose veins are caused by damaged vein walls and valves that result in blood pooling in the legs instead of moving back to your heart. Anyone can develop varicose veins, but they are twice as common in women. Risk factors include:
- Aging
- Family history of varicose veins
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Standing or sitting for long hours regularly
Read More: Debunking 5 Common Vein Disease Myths
First Steps to Manage Varicose Veins
You can’t always prevent varicose veins, but you can take steps to stop them from worsening. Wearing compression stockings or socks can also help improve blood flow in your legs. These garments will not cure varicose veins but may help reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
Lifestyle modifications can also reduce your risk of varicose veins and include:
- Adjusting how frequently you stand or sit during the day, taking a break every 30 minutes
- Daily exercise
- Elevating your feet while resting
- Losing weight
Read More: This is Why I Chose CR for Vein Treatment
Minimally Invasive Treatment Can Help
Varicose veins don’t go away on their own, but there are effective, minimally invasive treatment options that can eliminate varicose veins for most people:
- Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT): Endovascular providers use lasers to close off the damaged vein. EVLT is used for smaller varicose veins or spider veins.
- Sclerotherapy: A provider injects a chemical into the damaged vein that causes it to seal shut. Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for varicose veins.
There are many benefits to treating varicose veins. Treatment can reduce or completely resolve leg symptoms such as heaviness, tiredness, aching and swelling and prevent progression of varicose veins, venous stasis skin discoloration, and formation of venous stasis ulcers. After treatments, patients can better perform the activities that they love, without being hampered by vein symptoms. Treatments also offer excellent cosmetic results, reducing or completely eliminating varicose and spider veins, allowing patients to feel confident and comfortable wearing shorts or swimsuits instead of trying to cover up their legs.
Aftercare Helps to Get Rid of Varicose Veins
Unfortunately, varicose veins do occasionally return after treatment. But you can do several things to reduce the risk of recurrence and improve your vein health, including:
- Follow your provider’s instructions exactly. For best results, you will need to wear compression tights or bandages for a short time after your procedure. Neglecting to wear these as prescribed can prevent the varicose veins from fully disappearing.
- Make sure to keep your follow-up appointments. Some patients may need multiple treatments to seal off the problem veins fully.
- Tell your provider about any problems after your procedure.
Committing to healthy lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, will also decrease the chances of recurrent varicose veins.
A Vein Specialist Can Help Improve Your Vein Health
If you’re considering treatment for varicose or spider veins, it is important to consult a vein specialist for an accurate diagnosis. Veins can have complex anatomy and incomplete or over-treatment can result in early symptom recurrence or poor cosmetic outcome. At Charlotte Radiology Vein Centers, our specialists pride themselves in their expertise and patient-centered approach to ensure that you receive the optimal treatment for your veins.
Your Charlotte Radiology vein specialist will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your venous insufficiency and create a custom treatment plan. Personalized expert care at Charlotte Radiology is the best way to get rid of varicose veins.
