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Spider veins on the legs are a common problem, especially in women. Sclerotherapy remains the treatment of choice although lasers have also been tried. Sclerotherapy is an office procedure which involves injection of the spider veins with a concentrated salt-water solution (saline). Other solutions are available for injections but saline is the safest and most effective in our experience. The procedure causes minor discomfort similar to that from eyebrow tweezing or waxing, for most patients. An anesthetic cream may be used prior to sclerotherapy to minimize the discomfort, if desired. After one treatment, the veins diminish. A second or third treatment leads to further improvement & disappearance of the veins gradually. The best time to have sclerotherapy is in the winter and spring since it is easier to keep the legs sun-protected. Sun protection before and after sclerotherapy is important to minimize the risk of pigmentation, especially in darker skin types. |
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