Certain vitamin and mineral supplements can help prevent or improve the appearance of spider and varicose veins, Jacksonville's St. Johns Vein Center says.

As with most any medical condition, nutrition can assist your body in healing or even avoiding varicose veins, Jacksonville’s St. Johns Vein Center says.

“A basic healthy diet, plus certain vitamin and mineral supplements can help strengthen the walls of your veins,” says Dr. James St. George. “And vein wall strength is a major factor in whether and to what extent varicose veins form.”

Varicose and spider veins form when weak or damaged blood vein valves fail, causing blood that should be pumping upwards to the heart to fall backwards into the lower leg. Blood pools inside the veins, causing them to stretch, bulge and show through the skin’s surface.

To help strengthen your vein walls and keep blood pumping effectively, adopt a healthy diet rich in vitamins C, E, B6 and B12, plus copper, fiber and bioflavonoids.

Vitamin C helps the body manufacture connective tissues collagen and elastin, both of which the body uses to repair and maintain veins, keeping them strong and flexible. Vitamin E helps prevent blood clots by keeping platelets from sticking together and adhering to the sides of blood vessel walls. Vitamins B6 and B12 also help clear the blood of homocysteine, which has been linked to recurring blood clots.

Copper, a trace mineral found in shellfish, lean red meat, whole grains, nuts and seeds, is essential in building and repairing endothelial cells, the smooth protective cells that line the insides of blood vessels. It’s used in the body to knit together collagen and elastin and appears to help protect blood vessels against microscopic tears and rough spots that can lead to blood clots and plaque-filled veins. Bioflavonoids are found in deep-colored berries like blueberries, blackberries and cherries and may help keep capillaries from breaking down and forming spider veins.

A fiber-rich diet will help you avoid constipation, which can create pressure in your abdomen and block the flow of blood back to your legs, weakening vein walls over time. Cutting out salt helps, too. Too much salt will cause your legs to swell, placing added stress on your veins.

If you have spider veins or varicose veins, Jacksonville’s St. Johns Vein Center can help. Call 904-402-VEIN (8346) or complete our online form to schedule a consultation.

You wouldn’t take your car to body repair shop if it needed engine work, would you? So why visit a general surgeon for something as specialized as vein treatment? Unfortunately, if you’re unsure what to look for in a vein specialist, Jacksonville’s Dr. James St. George says, you just might end up with a similar scenario.

Founder of the St. Johns Vein Center, Dr. St. George is a highly regarded vascular specialist treating blue, spider and varicose veins. Jacksonville patients have depended upon him for relief from the pain, itching and cosmetic woes of venous conditions. No matter where you are, he offers a few tips for choosing a qualified vein specialist. Before agreeing to treatment, ask your prospective provider these three questions:

1. What are your qualifications? Specifically, look for a physician who has completed a fellowship in a specialty with advanced training in venous disorders as recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The certified specialists who generally meet this requirement are interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons. Certification by the American Board of Phlebology indicates additional commitment to specialization in venous disease.
2. Who will perform procedures? The answer from a physician should be “me.” If you find that you’ll actually be treated by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or an ultrasound technologist, then find another practice.
3. Do you have a dedicated sonographer and state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment? Treatment of your veins should never occur without first evaluating your leg veins with ultrasound. Many practices pay a part-time or freelance sonographer on an as-needed basis using older or portable equipment. For the most effective and thorough treatment, choose a practice with a dedicated sonographer who specializes in evaluating venous insufficiency or varicose veins.

Also make sure that the varicose vein specialist or firm you choose uses the latest technology and offers comprehensive care of not just the main abnormal vein, but smaller, peripheral veins as well.

If you’re in the Northeast Florida area, St. Johns Vein Center is your best bet for effective treatment of blue, spider and varicose veins. Call 877-640-VEIN (8346) to schedule a consultation.

Pregnant? You'll need to wait until three to four months after giving birth to undergo sclerotherapy treatment for spider and varicose veins, Jacksonville's St. Johns Vein Center recommends.

In Europe, sclerotherapy has been routinely used for more than 50 years by the medical specialty known as Phlebology. However, most American physicians do not understand the technique. Eighty-two percent of gynecologists surveyed did not have enough knowledge to advise patients who requested information on the treatment of varicose and spider veins. A survey has shown that American women are more concerned with their spider veins than with any other cosmetic problem.

Each of the three different types of sclerotherapy (ultrasound, liquid or foam) involves the injection of a sclerosing (or hardening) medication into the abnormal veins. In a typical sclerotherapy session, you’ll lie down on an examination table while the skin over your spider veins or varicose veins is cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Your doctor then will stretch hold your skin taught and begin injecting the solution into affected veins with very tiny (30g) needles. Roughly one injection is administered for every inch of spider or varicose vein, so your session might involve as few as five or as many as 40 injections per treatment, depending upon the severity of your vein condition.

Pain is minimal. A full treatment generally lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and there is little or no downtime for recovery. Your doctor may instruct you to wear compression hose for a week following treatment, to help keep the veins compressed and the blood from pooling back into your veins. And you’ll be encouraged to walk regularly. In addition to the cosmetic benefits of sclerotherapy, many patients experience improved leg health.

However, as Dr. St. George says, sclerotherapy isn’t for everyone. Pregnant women in particular should not consider undergoing sclerotherapy treatments until 3-4 months after they’ve given birth, as most pregnancy-related spider and varicose veins will disappear on their own with time. Also, if you plan to breastfeed, be aware that it’s unknown how sclerosing solutions affect breast milk. Patients who have had blood clots in the past may or may not be suitable candidates for sclerotherapy, depending upon the reason for the clot and the overall health of the area needing treatment.

If you’re experiencing unsightly or uncomfortable spider or varicose veins, Jacksonville’s St. Johns Vein Center can help. Call toll free 877-640-VEIN (8346) or schedule a consultation online.