Reticular veins are the veins that are distributed subcutaneously in the lower extremities and feed the small varicose veins called telangiectasias and are the triggers of the vascular aesthetic problem. Dr. Julià, expert in Angiology and Vascular Surgery, talks about spider veins and their treatment.
What are spider veins
Reticular veins form a wide network of web-like veins under the skin. The term telangiectasia describes small-caliber venous vessels visible to the human eye. These vessels have a reddish to bluish hue and measure approximately 0.1 to 1mm in diameter producing a small vascular dilatation with primarily cosmetic implications.
These spider veins cannot be considered a disease in itself, although they are the first stage of varicose disease.
What causes spider veins
Female sex, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, heredity and some medical treatments are risk factors for the appearance of these small varicose veins. They can appear as early as adolescence, but they become more accentuated in maturity and post-pregnancy, which is when they are most evident.
Treatment to eliminate spider veins
Since the clinical implications are minimal, or non-existent, treatment can be done at any time. The only reason to treat them is for cosmetic reasons. Rarely, and depending on the location, they may bleed with minimal trauma. In that case, it is mandatory to treat them to avoid repeated bleeding or the appearance of small ulcerations.
Sclerotherapy treatments by injecting into the varicose vein some liquid that scleroses them or produces fibrosis is the treatment of choice. The most commonly used sclerosants are glycerin, polidocanol foam, hypertonic glucose or a combination of them. The choice will depend on the size of the varicose vein or the specialist’s preference.
These treatments are performed on an outpatient basis and without anesthesia, the discomfort is moderate and allows an immediate return to normal life. The laser used in the past seems to have given way to more effective and less painful sclerosing techniques.