Posts Tagged Appearance
Spider Vein Prevention
Posted by admin in Spider Veins on January 23, 2009
Patients often ask if there is anything that may be done to prevent the occurrence of new spider veins. The truth is the most important thing you can do to prevent spider veins is to choose your parents well. This is a joke, of course, but just as there is little you can do about choosing your parents so also there is little else you can do to prevent spider veins from appearing. Wearing compression stockings or taking supplements advertised for that purpose have not been shown to reduce their appearance. Treatment of spider veins that currently exist slows the process but does not prevent other spider veins that were destined to fail from gradually appearing. For this reason, most patients who elect to undertake the treatment of spider veins will need a single treatment session or, in more advanced cases, two sessions, every year or two to maintain what they have achieved. This is because the genetic “seed” is still in the veins. However, leaving the problem alone only allows it to worsen.
The backward flow in spider veins causes their appearance and pain
Posted by admin in Spider Veins on January 8, 2009
The backward flow has two effects. The first and most obvious effect is the backward flow engorges the vein as the blood is not able to empty normally. When this backward flow engorges very tiny fine veins in the skin the result is spider veins. These fine veins were present since we were but only became visible once backward flow engorged the vein.
When this backward flow affects larger and deeper veins the result is large lumpy varicose veins. Both spider veins and varicose veins originate from the same cause-a genetic trait affecting one-way valves in the veins so that they now flow backwards with gravity and engorge the vein. Spider and varicose veins differ only in appearance.
In addition to causing engorgement and the appearance of spider veins, the backward flow has a second effect which is of causing symptoms of pain. The backward flow of the blood in the veins means the blood in these veins is relatively “stagnant” compared to normal veins where the blood continuously moves forward to the heart. The “stagnant” blood inside a vein engorges it, thus raising the venous pressure and an inflammatory response occurs within the vein. The inflammatory vein serves as an irritant to nearby muscles and nerves and causes a variety of symptoms including itching, heaviness, burning, fatigue, aching, swelling and restlessness among others.
Next we will talk about the three main risk factors for developing spider veins…
The underlying problem in spider veins is backward flow or “reflux”
Posted by admin in Spider Veins on January 8, 2009
Spider veins affect a large portion of our nation, particularly females. Spider veins develop because of a genetic trait affecting small one way valves inside of leg veins. These valves normally insure that the blood is only able to move in one direction towards the heart as the compression of the calf and thigh muscles force the blood through them. When these valves begin to fail, characteristically around puberty, the blood inside the veins actually falls back down the veins with gravity when you are upright. The backward flow in the vein is called “reflux”.
Next we will talk about what causes their appearance and pain…