Leading Vein Specialists in Houston & Dallas for Spider Veins Treatment
Spider veins are tiny, dilated veins that are visible on the surface of the skin. With nearly 55% of women and 45% of men having some sort of vein disease, spider veins are a common sight. Spider veins are smaller red or blue veins, typically found on the legs or face. They can look like spiderwebs and are closer to the skin than normal veins. Varicose veins, while similar and often confused with spider veins, are much larger and look like bulging or twisting rope.
Because spider veins can create a meshwork of colored lines, they spoil the look of your legs. While spider veins aren’t generally a health hazard, they can keep you from enjoying a balmy climate in cool shorts, fashionable swimwear, or airy dresses and skirts.
Dr. William Fox, Dr. Eric Hardee, Dr. AJ Valenson, and Dr. Patel are board-certified interventional radiologists providing comprehensive vein treatments. The team at Texas Endovascular will make an accurate diagnosis based on your symptoms and provide you with an in depth treatment plan. Learn more about spider veins and schedule your consultation at any of our four offices in the Greater Houston and Dallas area.
Common Symptoms of Spider Veins
Spider veins are usually painless and cosmetic. When they do cause symptoms, the most common are aching, burning, and itching in the legs, and these sensations typically worsen after long periods of standing or sitting. Symptoms like these can also signal an underlying vein condition, so persistent discomfort is worth having evaluated by a vein specialist.
Common Spider Vein Symptoms
Beyond their visible red, blue, or purple web-like appearance, spider veins on the legs may cause:
- Aching — a dull ache or sense of heaviness, often the earliest sign
- Burning — a warm or burning sensation beneath the skin
- Itching — irritation or tenderness over the affected veins
- Discomfort that worsens with prolonged standing or sitting
What Causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins are caused by a backup of blood that can result from hormone changes, exposure to the sun, or an injury. They are often found in the legs because of the intense pressure on the veins as they try to carry blood back up to your heart.
Other factors such as age, heredity, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy can also increase your risk for spider veins, so it is important to take preventative measures.
What Can You Do to Prevent Spider Veins?
Some steps our patients can take to prevent spider veins from occurring include:
- Wearing sunscreen regularly
- Exercising consistently and maintaining a healthy weight, which can help reduce pressure on your leg veins
- Taking breaks from either sitting or standing for long periods
- Less exposure to placing your laptop on bare legs also known as Toasted Skin Syndrome
- Limiting the amount of time you wear high heels, or shoes with steep inclines
Treatment for Spider Veins at Texas Endovascular in Houston and Dallas, TX
State-of-the-Art Vein Treatments
Sclerotherapy is the most common form of treatment for spider veins. It’s been widely used for decades. The process involves injecting a solution that causes the blood vessel lining to collapse and stick together. The blood then begins to clot, and the vessel turns to scar tissue over time, allowing the vein to disappear from your sight.
We may also seal spider veins with the use of a catheter or laser. In these cases, we use heat to seal the vein. This also results in scar tissue formation, which will gradually become less noticeable over time.
Do Spider Vein Treatments Hurt?
When we use lasers to treat spider veins at our Vein Treatment Center in Houston and Dallas, you may notice a burning sensation in your legs. To prevent this from becoming too intense, we will apply some method of cooling to your skin during treatment. There may also be some discomfort when we insert catheters into the vein but this should be minimal
Serving the Houston & Dallas area at these Convenient Spider Vein Treatment Centers
Each location offers the same specialized spide vein care delivered by board-certified interventional radiologists. Our board-certified vein disease specialists serve patients throughout Texas at convenient locations, including:
