Women, men with spider veins can remove them with lasers, noninvasive needle treatments

Cosmetic imperfections turn into a big problem when a person feels self-conscious or insecure about the way they look. One such problem is telangiectasia – more commonly referred to as spider veins.

It is considered a common occurrence for both men and women.

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“The majority of individuals have spider veins on their legs,´ said Dr. Peter Schmid with the Longmont-based Institute of Aesthetic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery LLC.

“Sometimes aesthetic problems can be a focal point, and it affects people’s daily personal lives. Women tell me they want to wear dresses but do not because of low self-esteem related to the way they look.”

People living with these imperfections have some solutions to turn to. Noninvasive procedures are available including laser treatments or small needle injections. The procedures are not covered by insurance companies because spider veins are considered a cosmetic issue and not a medical necessity.

Eliminating spider veins can cost $150 to $700 depending on the severity of the problem.

A more serious condition having to do with faulty blood valves is known as varicose veins. This condition causes the vein to have a ropelike appearance with purplish coloring. This is considered a medical problem and often requires treatment.

Sclerotherapy is a procedure used on spider veins where one of several liquid solutions, called a sclerosing agent, is injected into the vein using a small needle. It flushes the blood out of vessels, causing irritation and inflammation. The final breakdown and collapse of the vessel lining is what prevents blood from re-entering.

“Vessels are like veins on a leaf,” Schmid said. “If you can find the main feeder, or trunk, then all of those vessels can be flushed out with one injection.” Many doctors prefer this method of treatment because it is considered more comfortable and has minimal side effects.

Intense pulsed light, or IPL, treatment may cause burns to the skin or blistering. It also may cause the skin to lose pigmentation and create white spots. This treatment is limited to a specific skin type and is not recommended for Asians, Hispanics or African Americans.

The healing process can take up to four months with the likelihood of repeat sessions. Patients can expect to see a 50 percent to 70 percent improvement in spider-vein appearance after the first session.

Both procedures are done in an office setting, and the patient can leave the same day.

The injection procedure may feel like a rubber band snapping on the skin and does not require sedation. The patient can decide to treat the spider veins that remain six to eight weeks after the original procedure.

Dr. Winfield Hartley, a Boulder-based plastic surgeon, said these procedures can be done by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon as long as the person is experienced with injecting veins.

Hartley said more women have spider veins than men. He said more than 50 percent of women and more than 40 percent of men in America have spider veins. Spider veins can appear on people as young as 10 years old, but they are more common in adults.

“It tends to be seen more in the older population,” he said.

Spider veins are caused by genetics, sun damage and hormones. It also has been seen in people who are on their feet many hours per day.

“It takes a while for them to come out,” Hartley said. “Hormones related to puberty, metaphase, pregnancy and even birth control put people at a higher risk of developing spider veins or varicose veins.” Hartley said the removal of spider veins is a popular procedure in Boulder and Broomfield counties.

“People are looking young for longer amounts of time, and the removal of spider veins is part of that,” he said.

Kay, a Boulder resident, underwent sclerotherapy treatment and feels better about herself. With the success of the procedure she now wears shorter skirts and shorts, something she would not have done before.

“The treatment took very well,” she said. “I would recommend the procedure for people who are conscious of how they look.”

Dr. Claude Burrow, a Boulder-based plastic surgeon, said each person’s reaction to the treatment is different.

“Two to three sessions are needed to get rid of spider veins, and new ones can still develop,” he said. “They generally will not come back in the same place. These procedures allow people who were embarrassed about their legs to now wear shorts and bathing suits.”