Leg Veins
For millions of women, wearing skirts, shorts, or swimsuits is a nerve-wracking undertaking due to unsightly leg veins. For some, these leg veins can be painful. Patients describe itching, dull throbbing, a burning sensation, and generalized discomfort, usually at the end of the day in areas with a large amount of leg veins. These symptoms can be helped by using support hose all day long, but it is difficult to tolerate these in the 90+ degree temperature of the Sacramento summer. The blood vessels do not resolve on their own and therefore treatment may be helpful. If you are ready to show off your legs again, or just get rid of the discomfort, then you probably want to know more about sclerotherapy and laser therapy.
What causes vein disease?
Approximately 80 million Americans suffer from some type of vein disease, with women being the majority of those who seek treatment.
Note: There are several types of visible leg veins. Spider veins are the fine red blood vessels that occur on the thighs and lower legs, usually in clusters, that often appear as a large bruise. Reticular veins are the medium sized veins which are slightly below the skin and appear bluish/greenish in color. Varicose veins are larger and darker and usually look like they’re bulging.
Essentially, varicose veins are produced when small valves in veins stop working and cause the blood returning to the heart to flow in the wrong direction. This causes the veins to multiply to accommodate the extra blood, and occasionally to bulge.
These veins appear mainly on women after the age of 30, but can occur earlier. Other factors that can affect development of these veins include heredity, pregnancy, obesity, sitting or standing for long periods of time, and hormonal influences.
Although these veins are not truly a health problem, they are a problem in that they cause many women to feel self-conscious about their legs. Many women refrain from wearing dresses or shorts because they are concerned about the looks of the veins on their legs.
Can I prevent varicose and spider veins?
Varicose veins can be prevented by regular exercise, which improves leg muscles and circulation. It is best not to sit cross legged and to elevate the legs during rest. Avoid standing in one place for long periods of time. If your job consists of retail sales or cosmetology and you have to stand in one place for long periods of time, consider support stockings or standing exercises such as going up and down on your tip-toes.
