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Sclerotherapy is used to treat spider veins of the legs.
The medical term for spider veins is "telangiectasias", which are small superficial blood vessels that can easily be seeing through the skin. They sometimes look like spider webs or tree branches. They are usually painless; and although they may bother you because of their appearance, they post no real health risks. Larger veins, or painful ones, may require an ultrasound.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into veins to be treated using small needle. A solution used is called Asclera, which is a branded form of polidocanol. It works by causing damage to the inside lining of the veins. This causes the veins to close or collapse. Initially, at the time of the treatment, they vanish, and then they refill. Your body will then naturally reabsorbs any remaining fragments of the veins over the next few weeks.
The procedure takes around 20 minutes, and most patients will need more than one treatment. Although, some only need one. If you need more than one treatment, treatments can be performed 6 to 8 weeks apart.
The veins treated will look red and slightly inflamed for a few days after the treatment, and you may have some bruising. There shouldn’t be any pain, other than some tenderness at the injection site. For best results, it is highly recommended the use of compression stocking after the treatment and avoiding the sun for at least 2 weeks in order to reduce the chances of hyperpigmentation or darkening of the treated areas.
SOURCE
Ileana Perez-Quintairos, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
DR. PEREZ-QUINTAIROS PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Dermatology
Florida Medical Association
Dade County Medical Association
American Board of Dermatology
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