Spider veins -- the medical name is telangiectasias -- aren't harmful, but the clusters of spider-web-like veins can cause distress because of their unsightliness, and they might even cause discomfort, notes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Department's Office on Women's Health. The veins are usually found on the legs, and some people are more prone to them than others. Sufferers who want to have their spider veins treated often turn to sclerotherapy, a safe procedure that reduces or eliminates the veins' appearance.

Who Gets Spider Veins?

Some people inherit the tendency to develop spider veins, but conditions that promote pressure on your legs, such as obesity, abdominal pressure from constipation or wearing a girdle, and having a job that requires long hours of standing, can contribute to their formation, according to WebMD. Hormonal changes can also play a role. 

Diagnosing Spider Veins

Because spider veins are easy to see and identify, doctors can often diagnose them by sight, during an exam, but can also use imaging tools to rule out blood clots or other conditions affecting the veins' structure. Less commonly, according to the Office on Women's Health, a doctor might order a venogram to examine blood flow more closely.

Treating Spider Veins with Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is the primary treatment for spider veins because it's safe, minimally invasive, and it both improves the appearance of the spider veins and relieves symptoms such as pain and swelling.

Learning About Treatment with Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a same-day procedure you can have in-office. The Mayo Clinic explains that treatment is easy for the patient -- you'll receive injections of a chemical that causes the veins to develop scarring and eventually collapse so that surrounding tissues can absorb them. Pain from the injections should be mild, although some chemicals cause more pain than others, according to MedicineNet.com. You should start seeing some fading within a few weeks and the final result within a month or so, and you can repeat the treatment if the results are unsatisfactory.

Sclerotherapy treatment requires little to no downtime, takes less than an hour, and has minimal to zero scarring. But before scheduling it, you'll need a consultation, and possibly an ultrasound, to ensure this is the best option for you.

Recovering from Sclerotherapy

After-effects are typically mild, and they might include pain and bruising at the injection site and hyperpigmentation of the skin. More serious symptoms such as swelling and blood clotting at the injection site might require treatment.

For a couple of weeks afterward the procedure, you'll be asked to wear compression dressings and restrict flying.

Spider veins are usually more of a cosmetic issue than a medical one. But eliminating them with sclerotherapy can help you feel more confident about your appearance and even relieve or prevent the discomfort spider veins sometimes cause. For more information, contact your local varicose vein services.