Spider Veins | Jacksonville
Spider Veins (also known as telangiectasias) are a confluence of dilated blood vessels within the skin that are smaller than 1 millimeter in diameter. Spider veins and varicose veins have a lot in common; however, a spider vein is much smaller and tends to appear nearer to the skin's surface. Telangiectasias can show up almost any place on the body, but are most commonly found on legs within various parts of the thigh, calf and ankles.
Spider veins and varicose veins develop the same way. In both cases, weakened valves diminish the vein's ability to perform its essential function of regulating blood flow to the heart. When this happens, swelling and bulging can occur, causing the veins to pool up with blood. In the case of spider veins, their appearance resembles that of a spider web or tree branch, with broken up capillaries producing short and jagged lines.
Spider Veins - Causes
Among the general population, around 15% of males and 25% of females end up with telangiectasias. However, people living in Jacksonville and other parts of Florida are at a higher risk of ending up with this condition, particularly because they tend to fit into one or more of the at risk demographics. Spider veins and varicose veins share several common causes, including:
- Various occupations where a person spends a lot of time standing or sitting, putting undue pressure on the lower parts of the body
- Obesity
- Family medical history of certain vein-related conditions like blood clotting
- Hormonal changes in women resulting from puberty, pregnancy & menopause
- Traumatic skin injuries or a previous venous surgery gone bad
- Aging
- Overexposure of the skin to sunlight
Because Jacksonville has an older population and is in a southern location where sunlight tends to be strong for most of the year, residents of this area need to be aware of the increased risk of developing a venous insufficiency problem like telangiectasias.
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Some of the common minor symptoms of spider veins and varicose veins include:
- Swells
- Aches and Pains
- Cramps
- Itches
- Frequent Exhaustion
More serious symptoms may include blood clotting (inside the vein), bleeding or skin ulcers
Spider Veins - Treatment
At St. Johns Vein Center Jacksonville, we offer residents of north-central Florida the most cutting edge treatments for spider veins and varicose veins in a safe and highly effective manner. All our treatments are non-surgical and (at most) minimally invasive. They are also administered by the doctor right inside our clinic. While the specific treatment plan recommended will depend on each individual case, sclerotherapy and laser treatment have both been highly successful for the elimination of telangiectasias. If the cause of the telangiectasias was feeder veins, we will usually need to perform sclerotherapy on the "feeders" first. Once successful, we will eliminate the spider veins with either lasers or sclerotherapy.
If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more spider veins symptoms and you are in the north-central Florida area, contact St. Johns Vein Center Jacksonville for an evaluation. Dr. St. George will give you an examination, then discuss your condition and all the appropriate treatment options we have available. We appreciate your business and we look forward to serving you!
