Varicose and spider veins can be quiet unsightly, they are highly visible misshapen veins. For the most part they are only an aesthetic concern. In some cases, varicose veins can be painful, cause feelings of heaviness, cause swelling and discoloration. In severe cases, they may cause ulcers.
The most common causes for varicosities are pregnancy, menopause, age, occupations with long periods of standing, obesity, constipation and family history.
When it comes to treatment options there are many, and the severity of your varicosities will determine which one is best for you.
The most common treatment option is compression stockings, these are mostly recommended if there is also swelling. Although a good option this is not treating the underlying cause of the varicose/spider veins.
If you want to resolve the issue treatment should start with lifestyle changes: weight loss, exercise, diet, avoiding standing for long periods. Other things to consider would be balancing hormones and relieving abdominal pressure.
If you are more concerned with the aesthetics of the twisted veins then you may want to consider surgery or other procedures like: sclerotherapy (injections into the veins), radiofrequency occlusion (collapsing the vein) or IPL (intense pulsed light treatment).
At Beachealth we offer IPL for spider veins. Using specific light wavelengths the device heats up the vein in order to destroy it. It may take several treatments but results can be seen after one treatment.
The before and after is on a patient’s foot, the results are two months after a single treatment.
If you are looking for treatment options for your varicose/spider veins you can book a Naturopathic consult or an aesthetic consult with Dr. Matthew Pace, ND