The cause of varicose and spider veins is not known. However, in many cases, they run in families. Women seem to develop this problem more often than men. Changes in oestrogen levels in the blood may have a role in the development of varicose veins. This may be due to taking the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy, or due to natural hormonal fluctuations such as puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Other factors that may contribute include:
- Standing or sitting for long periods
- Being immobile for long periods (for example, being confined to bed)
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
Laser technology offers a very effective means of treating spider veins. The laser works by transmitting laser light through the skin to the blood vessels being treated. As the laser light is absorbed, it is converted into heat, which is conducted to the surrounding walls of the vessels. If enough damage is done to the walls of these tiny veins, the circulatory system will not be able to repair it, and the tiny veins will completely disappear. The laser beam can deliver energy to a large area with each pulse, so laser vein removal takes just a few minutes to treat each discoloured vein.
No anaesthesia is required but you will experience a stinging, burning sensation during the treatment, which resolves immediately after the treatment is over. In some cases, you may be offered topical anaesthetic cream, which may completely eliminate any discomfort.
One to three sessions are usually required to resolve all traces of these unsightly veins. If vessels are still visible in 8 weeks, a second treatment will be necessary. Side effects are few but may include redness, swelling or mild pain at the site for a few days.
The appearance of the treated vessels will dramatically change after treatment, turning from blue and purple into light red. Some of the vessels may bulge, however, any inflammation will disappear within a couple of hours. The redness of the treated vessels will gradually disappear as the healing process occurs, which may take anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks, depending on the severity of the veins.
The development of new veins cannot be prevented and if your body tends to develop vascular problems, you will most likely need to return for additional treatments.