Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Bug Bites You Should Be Able to Identify
- What causes spiderwebs?
- Signs and symptoms of spider's blood vessels
- Treatment options for spider veins
- Supporting stocking or compression
- Sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser treatment
- Lifestyle changes
Medical Video: 10 Bug Bites You Should Be Able to Identify
Spider veins are blood vessels that resemble varicose veins, but are smaller and closer to the surface of the skin. These blood vessels are red, purple or blue, which rotate and turn, looking like tree branches or cobwebs. These blood vessels are mostly found in the legs or face and can cover small or large areas of the skin.
What causes spiderwebs?
There are many factors that increase the risk of spider veins, including aging, family history of spiderweb blood vessels, personal history of blood clots, history of vascular surgery, and use of birth control pills.
This condition is more often experienced by women due to hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause. People whose jobs need to stand for long periods of time such as sales people, factory workers, nurses, hairdressers, teachers, are also at high risk of having blood vessels for spiderwebs. Lack of exercise and obesity are also factors in the "spiderweb" blood vessels.
Signs and symptoms of spider's blood vessels
The appearance of a spider-like vein on the skin is the most obvious sign of this condition. In addition, most of these cases are also followed by feelings of discomfort in the legs such as aches, cramps, burning, tingling, or a heavy burden on the legs, especially when standing for a long time.
Less common symptoms are swelling, darkening of the skin and boils. These symptoms can be worse for women during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
Treatment options for spider veins
Supporting stocking or compression
This is the most effective trick to overcome complaints that come with spider veins. Use the right size stocking support, uncomfortable symptoms can subside when the stockings put pressure on the blood vessels. This stocking is available in lengths below the knee, above the knee, and pantyhose style, and can be purchased freely or by prescription.
Sclerotherapy
In this procedure, the doctor will inject an irritant chemical (usually a very high concentration of salt solution) into a problematic blood vessel, causing the blood vessels to become seizure and collapse inward. After that, the sealed blood vessels can no longer carry blood and become scar tissue, then fade eventually.
Endovenous laser treatment
A small fiber laser will be inserted into a blood vessel. Pulsating laser beams are sent into the blood vessels, causing the blood vessels to collapse and seal shut. This procedure is carried out in outpatients under local anesthesia. The doctor can also insert a small catheter into a blood vessel and send radiofrequency energy into the walls of the blood vessels, making it heat up and sealed shut.
Lifestyle changes
Good hygiene, relevant exercise and weight loss (if needed) can be very helpful in the treatment of spider's blood vessels.
