Thread Vein - Leg (Spider Vein)

Spider veins (telangiectasia in medical jargon) are small, thin, unsightly veins that lie close to the surface of the skin and occur either in lines or clusters or sunburst patterns.

They are commonly referred to as "broken veins." Although they occasionally ache, burn or itch they are usually not symptomatic. They are connected to the main venous system but are not an essential part of it. In fact, they serve no useful purpose at all.

Spider veins are not a hazard to one's health and simply constitute cosmetic blemishes. The greatest problems that they pose are to the self-esteem and self-image of those who inherit them.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the oldest treatment method of abnormal veins and remains one of the mainstays of eliminating spider veins and certain varicose veins. A tiny needle is used to inject a gentle solution into the involved vein, causing it to close down and be absorbed by the body. There is little discomfort with the procedure. Elastic compression hose are worn after each treatment. The duration depends upon the size of the vessels and may vary from two days to two weeks. Several treatments are usually required. There are three general types of sclerotherapy in current practice in modern phlebology:

1. Traditional Sclerotherapy
in which an appropriate concentration of an appropriate solution (there are several) is injected into the abnormal vein under direct vision, frequently using magnification.

2. Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
in which larger (and usually deeper) varicose veins or their feeding veins are injected using a duplex scanner to guide the needle.

3. Foam Sclerotherapy
in which the sclerosing solution is actually injected as a foam rather than as a liquid. This is the latest and most modern technique. It is more effective and requires fewer needle sticks than traditional methods. It can be used with both direct injection and ultrasound guided approaches