Varicose veins are a common disease that affects many adults.
According to statistics, the incidence of this disease in women is higher than in men. These veins appear on the legs and become more common with age.
In this article, we further mentioned important facts about varicose veins, and provided corresponding photos to better understand their appearance, appearance and treatment methods.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are abnormally dilated veins, most commonly in the legs. Usually blue, purple or skin tone.
looks like dilated, twisted and bulging blood vessels that can protrude above the surface of the skin.
What is a spider vein?
Spider vein (also called telangiectasia or spider vein, vasculature) is a collection of small blood vessels that develop near the surface of the skin.
They are usually red, blue or purple, and have a net-like appearance. The most common spider veins are located on the face and legs.
What causes the development of varicose veins?
Varicose veins are caused by abnormal blood vessel structure.
The veins carry blood from all parts of the body back to the heart. They have a series of one-way valves to avoid backflow of blood.
For many reasons, these valves may be damaged, causing blood to flow back into the vein. Further blood stasis will increase the pressure in the vein and weaken the vessel wall.
Then, due to the stagnation of blood and the expansion of the affected blood vessels, arachnoid and varicose veins develop.
The reason for development?
There are many different risk factors that increase a person’s chance of developing varicose veins.
Including:
- old age,
- Standing or sitting for a long time,
- Obesity
- pregnancy
- Hormone Therapy
- Taking birth control pills
- Injured
- Previous vein surgery,
- The history of venous thrombosis,
- Family history.
Symptoms of varicose veins
In addition to its poor appearance, varicose veins usually have no other symptoms or signs. However, some people may experience certain symptoms due to varicose veins.
Symptoms may include:
- Edema
- Rob moving feeling
- Pain,
- The feeling of burning,
- Itching,
- Severity
- Tingling or cramping in the legs.
These symptoms usually get worse after sitting or standing for a long time. Individuals may also develop brown skin and eventually cause trophic ulcers.
Complications of varicose veins
If varicose veins are not treated, it may cause the following:
- Nutritional skin ulcers occur. These open wounds usually appear on the calf. Sometimes they cause the development of soft tissue infections.
- A blood clot appears in the vein (superficial thrombophlebitis).
- may bleed from the veins.
Diagnose the vascular network and varicose veins of the legs
The presence of varicose veins in the legs can be diagnosed by thoroughly examining the affected area, which is usually located on the leg.
The examination consists of visual inspection and palpation of the problem area. Pay special attention to redness, puffiness, skin discoloration and trophic ulcers.
Home Care
You can use several methods at home to relieve certain symptoms (if they do occur). These conservative methods can also help prevent any potential complications.
Compression socks
Compression stockings are a simple home care measure that can help relieve leg symptoms.
They improve blood circulation by increasing the pressure on the legs. These stockings have different types and compressive strengths. Your doctor can recommend the right pair for you. Usually sold in pharmacies.
Lifestyle changes
Regular exercise and weight loss programs can help relieve the symptoms of arachnoid and varicose veins.
Affected people should avoid standing or sitting for a long time, and do not raise their legs while sitting or sleeping to improve blood circulation and reduce leg swelling.
Sclerotherapy
Sometimes conservative treatment of varicose veins at home may not achieve the desired results. In these cases, more specialized medical procedures can be performed based on the location and size of the abnormal vein.
These medical procedures are usually performed for cosmetic reasons.
Sclerotherapy is a common technique that doctors can perform. It is very effective in eliminating most spider veins and some varicose veins.
During this process, there is no need for anesthesia. The doctor injects the liquid solution directly into the affected vein to make it stick together and eventually disappear. It may take multiple sessions to get the best results. Potential side effects include bruising, swelling, bleeding, infection and skin discoloration.
Sclerotherapy: Before and After
Sclerotherapy may require multiple courses, and the healing time may vary from person to person.
Generally, spider veins start to disappear within 3-6 weeks after treatment, and varicose veins may take several months to improve.
Laser treatment of varicose veins
Laser therapy is another alternative medical procedure that doctors can also perform. Sometimes in addition to sclerotherapy, it can also be used to maximize the effect. This technique is most effective for spider veins and small varicose veins.
For those patients who are afraid of puncture needles, although the doctor can advise you which treatment is best for your particular situation, laser treatment is another treatment option.
Laser therapy uses a focused beam to heat the affected blood vessels, and the blood vessels eventually disappear.
Potential side effects include slight redness or swelling around the treated area, skin discoloration, blisters, and rarely scars.
Laser therapy is a recently developed treatment method for varicose veins, in which different ranges of light pulses are used to treat the affected area.
Laser treatment: before and after surgery
Like sclerotherapy, multiple laser sessions are usually required to get the best results. It may take weeks to months to improve after treatment.
Vein surgery
For more severe cases of varicose veins, surgery is a treatment option. Your doctor will discuss various possible surgical procedures with you to help you determine which varicose vein treatment is best for you. One of the surgical methods is to bandage the vein and remove it through a small incision in the skin.
Vein surgery: before and after treatment
Ligation and removal of veins can usually successfully treat the symptoms and cosmetic problems of varicose veins. The surgery is performed under local, spinal or general anesthesia in the hospital.
It usually takes about 2-4 weeks to fully recover from this operation. Potential complications may include infection, bleeding, scars, nerve damage, deep vein thrombosis and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Vein laser treatment
Intravenous laser therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves irradiating a laser through a thin line inserted into the affected vein to narrow it.
The initial success rate of intravenous laser treatment is 98%. This procedure is performed on outpatients under local anesthesia or mild sedation.
Compared with surgical ligation and removal of veins, patients treated with intravenous lasers report less pain and recover faster.
Radiofrequency ablation
Intravenous radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive surgery similar to intravenous laser treatment.
Instead of using a laser, a catheter inserted into a vein uses radio frequency energy, which heats and shrinks the affected blood vessel.
As with intravenous laser treatment, patients report less pain and recover faster than ligation and phlebectomy through surgery.
Prevent varicose veins
Although it is not always possible to prevent varicose veins, there are many ways you can reduce the possibility of varicose veins.
Prevention techniques include:
- Exercise regularly;
- Maintain a healthy weight;
- Avoid sitting or standing for a long time;
- Avoid pinching your legs when sitting down;
- Raise your legs while resting;
- Please do not wear clothes that will squeeze your waist, groin and legs.
Dear friend. This article is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consulting a doctor.