Spider veins on the legs
Spider veins on the legs are dilated capillary vessels that shine through the skin. The color of such a spider web varies from purple to red. Often such formations can be found not only on the lower limbs, but also on the face, abdomen and even on the stomach. This process is persistent, but non-inflammatory.
In general, the spider vein itself does not pose any danger to human life or health. Often it is not even a symptom of the disease, being formed under the influence of external factors. However, in some cases, spider veins can indicate the presence of a serious pathology in the body that requires immediate treatment.
According to statistics, such a cosmetic defect is found in 30% of the world's population, and 80% of them are female. After the age of 70, 72% of women have spider veins.
A separate risk group includes women who have gone through childbirth. This is due to hormonal changes in the body. Under the influence of estrogen (the concentration of which increases during pregnancy), the vessels tend to expand. When a baby is born, the amount of estrogen returns to normal. Within 1.5 months, the vessels should also return to their original state. However, this does not always happen, as a result, spider veins are formed on the legs and on other parts of the woman's body. Arteries, venules and capillaries can expand in the range from 0.5 to 1 mm. However, even this expansion is sufficient to create a visible cosmetic defect.
Content:
- The causes of spider veins on the legs
- Classification of spider veins
- Treatment of spider veins on the legs
- What doctor deals with the treatment of spider veins on the legs
The causes of spider veins on the legs
Among the reasons leading to the emergence of spider veins, the following can be distinguished:
- Congenital diseases: Randu-Osler disease or congenital angiomatosis (characterized by an inferiority of the vascular epithelium), Louis-Bar ataxia-telangiectasia (primary immunodeficiency), Marfan syndrome (hereditary pathology of connective tissue), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hereditary defect in the production of collagen), Klipp Trenone, Sturge-Weber, etc. In addition, vascular hemangiomas, as specific malformations, congenital neuroangiopathies and progressive essential telangiectasias, can lead to the formation of spider veins.
- Hormonal disorders in the human body: the period of gestation and childbirth, miscarriages, abortions.
- Taking hormonal drugs - oral contraceptives and glucocorticosteroids.
- Dermatological diseases, including: rosacea, xeroderma pigmentosa, radiation dermatitis, Mayocchi's disease, lichenoid keratosis.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system: varicose veins, Raynaud's disease, chronic venous insufficiency.
- Systemic connective tissue diseases: dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma.
- Disorders of hepatic metabolism in various organ pathologies: cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.
- Overweight.
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Lack of vitamin C, as a result of which the vascular walls become more permeable.
- Other diseases: syphilis, AIDS, carcinoid syndrome.
In addition to the main reasons leading to the formation of spider veins on the legs, additional external factors-provocateurs can be distinguished.
These include:
- Adherence to bad habits;
- Increased load on the lower limbs;
- Physical activity exceeding the norm;
- Nervous strain;
- Injuries received;
- Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays (especially for tanners);
- Hard working conditions;
- Exposure to radioactive radiation;
- Overheating and hypothermia of the lower extremities;
- Too frequent use of peels and heat masks that damage the skin;
- Exposure to ionizing radiation.
Classification of spider veins
You can find many classifications of spider veins, however, in clinical practice, doctors most often use the option proposed by Redish and Peltzer:
- Sinus spider veins (simple or linear).
- Treelike.
- Arachnids (stellate).
- Patiform (spotted).
On the legs, blue or red linear, as well as tree-like spider veins are most often found. The female lower extremities are characterized by a family accumulation of altered capillaries. They are either parallel on the inner thigh or circumferentially on the outer thigh.
It is worth knowing that the occurrence of spider veins on the legs in women and in men have different causes of origin. So, if they are diagnosed in males, then most often such formations indicate the presence of venous insufficiency.
If spider veins appear in women on the calves and thighs, then they can be signs of hormonal imbalance, and not just venous insufficiency. Often, it is in the female sex that spider veins are of a mixed type.
Treatment of spider veins on the legs
There are two effective methods of treating spider veins on the lower extremities: laser photocoagulation and sclerotherapy. In previous years, the method of electrocoagulation was also widely used, but modern medicine is increasingly abandoning it. The fact is that this technique is quite traumatic, since during its implementation significant damage to the skin occurs. As for general therapy, it is aimed at strengthening the vascular wall using ascorbic acid preparations, for example, Ascorutin.
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Sclerotherapy or microsclerotherapy. When performing this procedure, specialized drugs (sclerosants) are injected into the lumen of the vein, which is the base of the asterisk. Their action is aimed at damaging the inner layer lining the vein. Further, a specific reaction occurs in its cavity, which after a while is independently eliminated. Outwardly, it manifests itself in the form of slight swelling and redness. The doctor clamps the injection site and applies a compression bandage. These measures allow the vein not to unstick again under the influence of blood flow.
The procedure is quite lengthy in time and can take about 60 minutes. Up to 10 injections can be administered in one procedure. It may take up to 5 sets, with an interval of seven days.
When the procedure is completed, the patient needs to wear compression garments for some time. When it is removed, the spider veins will disappear. Subject to all conditions, this procedure is considered one of the most effective.
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Laser coagulation of blood vessels. A pathological venule or arteriole forming a spider veins selectively absorbs the laser beam and heats up under its influence. Temperatures can reach 70 ° C. As a result, the walls of the pathogenic vessel stick together until irreversible damage. At the same time, the tissues that surround the vessel do not heat up and are not damaged. To minimize discomfort, the skin around the treatment site is cooled.
To implement the method, different types of lasers can be used:
- Yellow-green spectrum.
- Alexandrite.
- Diode.
- Neodymium.
- Pulsed light sources.
Only specialized devices called vascular lasers are suitable for destruction of blood vessels. The procedure does not give 100% guarantees that the spider veins will not reappear.
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Electrocoagulation. Although modern doctors are increasingly abandoning this method, sometimes it is still used to remove spider veins. In this case, the pathological vessels are cauterized, acting on them with a high-frequency electric current. It is fed through the thinnest electrode that resembles a long needle. Local anesthesia is always performed for the procedure.
The procedure itself is short in time and takes no more than 20 minutes. During this period of time, the doctor will perform from 30 to 40 injections using an electrode. To completely get rid of a cosmetic defect, it may take up to 7 procedures, which must be performed at intervals of a week.
Although the effect of the procedure is always there, by modern standards it is considered traumatic, since the tissues surrounding the pathological vessel are exposed to high temperatures. As a result, after the procedure, scars, hyperpigmented or depigmented areas remain, which are often quite painful.
Treatment of spider veins on the legs -
Radio wave therapy. This method of treatment is carried out on the modern apparatus "Surgitron". During the procedure, a non-contact radio wave incision and coagulation of the pathological vessel are performed. In this case, the thinnest electrode penetrates the tissue without causing injury. After coagulation, the spider veins heal, while the patient does not experience painful sensations. The area that was exposed remains unchanged: it does not form scars and traces of pigmentation.
However, this unique technique is only available for removing single capillaries.
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Ozone therapy. Sometimes ozone therapy is used to remove spider veins on the legs. It is based on the introduction of an injection into the vessel cavity. The injection itself consists of a mixture of ozone and oxygen. Under its influence, the vessels undergo destruction or destruction. As a result, the spider veins completely disappear.
This method has no side effects. The injection site is absolutely painless, no scars or scars form on it. To achieve the maximum effect, it will take three to five procedures.
It should be understood that each method of treatment has a number of advantages and disadvantages in each case. Most often, the maximum effect in relation to the treatment of spider veins of the lower extremities can be obtained by combining two basic methods: laser photocoagulation and the sclerosis method.
What doctor deals with the treatment of spider veins on the legs
To get rid of the spider veins on the legs, you must first consult a phlebologist. This should be done for two reasons. Firstly, only a doctor will be able to determine the exact etiological factor that led to the emergence of spider veins, which are not always harmless. This is especially true for males. Secondly, it is the physician who is able to recommend the optimal therapeutic regimen, which often consists of a combination of methods.
Therefore, in order not to harm your own health in the fight against such a cosmetic defect as spider veins, a preliminary consultation with a phlebologist is necessary.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
