A dermatologist may use one or more of these treatments: Self-care: Your dermatologist can give you tips to improve your circulation. Advertising Policy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. display: inline-block!important; Before thinking about how to treat the blue veins you see on the legs, you should be thinking about why are they there.No doctor or nurse, no matter how clever, can tell that by simply looking at your legs or looking at a picture.You need to have a venous duplex ultrasound scan performed by a specialist vascular technologist who does nothing but venous duplex ultrasound scans. margin-top: 10px; > j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? They may be blue, red, or flesh-colored. Having acne can feel devastating for a teenager. @media only screen A Doppler ultrasound will show the blood flow in your leg veins. width: 444px;} > as they allow blood to pool. new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], They often replace the need to surgically remove a vein. } } /* color: #58595b; */ Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. A thin, flexible wire is threaded through the bottom of the vein and then pulled out, taking the vein with it. If you find yourself avoiding wearing bathing suits, skirts or shorts because of the blue colouring on your legs, then this is another perfectly valid reason to seek treatment. padding: 0; Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Sores That Won’t Heal. Weight 4. To help prevent possible side effects, you will need to take daily walks and wear the compression stockings as directed. font-weight: 500; Sometimes they go as part of that treatment.If you have the underlying veins treated successfully, and the surface veins are still present, that is when you can decide how to treat them. Varicose Veins can not only be painful, but can be a cause of embarrassment for many. } } letter-spacing: 2px; Here’s when you should see a doctor and what you can do to protect yourself. Because dermatologists made many of the advances that have given us safer, less invasive treatments for leg veins, they have a leg up on using these treatments. Even blue veins that are harmless health-wise can still make you feel self-conscious. More than 23 percent of all adults are thought to be affected by varicose veins. You have to wear compression stockings for 10 days post procedure to get best results. Varicose Veins. font-size: 15px; … }; 3. But if you're concerned about how your veins look and feel and self-care measures haven't stopped your condition from getting worse, see your doctor. The veins furthest from the heart are most often affected, such as those in the legs. visible blue veins in legs. Venous ulcers classically form around ankles and are often preceded by a discolored area. However, some potential risk factors include: The following risk factors are linked to a higher risk of having varicose veins: Women are much more likely to develop varicose veins during their pregnancy than at any other time in their lives. Policy. This content does not have an English version. Images American Academy of Dermatology, “Dermatologists have a leg up on newer minimally invasive treatments for leg veins.” News release issued July 31, 2013. > 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); But just because a vein is not thick and ropey, it does not mean an underlying issue is not present. /* color: #58595b; */ @media only screen and (max-width: 1023px){ If you’re experiencing a medical issue, please contact a healthcare professional or dial 911 immediately. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. In the majority of cases, the varicose veins go away after the pregnancy is over; this is not always the case, and sometimes, even if the varicose veins improve, there may be some left visible. } complication from bleeding and clotting. A chemical is injected into small and medium-sized varicose veins, which scars and closes them. The anesthesia also causes the area to swell. Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your tissues, and veins return blood from the rest of your body to your heart, so the blood can be recirculated. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine (seventh edition). As you head outdoors for warmer weather and fresh air, the AAD encourages you to #PracticeSafeSun. margin-left: 1px; They…. Spider veins often look like webs. width: 100%; And can they be made less painful? As the uterus (womb) grows, there is more pressure on the veins in the mother’s pelvic area. } Moul DK, Housman L, et al. 2016;98:62–9. Both these factors raise the risk of having varicose veins. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States is affected by varicose veins. Join a hike and you can make a significant impact on skin cancer. safest option.”. } It’s contagious, but you can reduce your child’s risk of catching it. However, if there are symptoms, treatment may be required to reduce pain or discomfort, address complications, such as leg ulcers, skin discoloration, or swelling. Find out how. In addition to being unsightly and painful, these conditions can lead to more serious complications, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), if left untreated. See our safe care and visitor guidelines, plus trusted coronavirus information. Pregnant women are more susceptible to varicose veins. filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(enabled=false); With continual pressure, the vein walls weaken and bulge. -webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.15), 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.075); Many times these blue veins can be effectively shrunk with sclerotherapy by a skilled physician. Do you know how dangerous they are? You can expect permanent results in all but one area. All Rights Reserved. While an exercise as strenuous as weight lifting builds body, it also exerts pressure … filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#ffc40000',endColorstr='#ff870000',GradientType=0); Over the years, dermatologists have improved sclerotherapy to make it safer and give patients better results. } AskMayoExpert. border-top: 1px solid; Any condition that puts pressure on the abdomen has the potential to cause varicose veins; for instance, pregnancy, constipation and, in rare cases, tumors. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. background-position: 0 -15px; Procedure is very simple, done in the office and  takes about 30 minutes. © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. color: #fff; You will be observed for a time and then be able to go home. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. } margin: -12px 0px 5px 0 !important; padding: 10px 7px; Both treatments work inside the vein to destroy it. } section#text-13 { You can return to work and most activities the next day. Sometimes they’re because you stand a lot. The best treatments for capillary issues are vascular lasers such as pulsed dye laser, Excel V, Aerolase, Venus Versa IPL, Laser Genesis or Yellow laser. You can get a rash from poison ivy any time of the year. Find out what helps. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. } Top answers from doctors based on your search: Disclaimer . .home .gform_widget .widgettitle { } -webkit-appearance: none; '&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= Nijsten T and van den Bos RR, et al. Varicose veins and spider veins. These tips include: Sit for long periods? Both Minimally invasive treatment can get rid of or fade leg veins. Sometimes, more than one type of treatment will be recommended to give you the best results and reduce side effects. Blue veins can also be a natural sign of aging, puberty, or pregnancy. */ We develop them when tiny, one-way valves inside the veins weaken. margin: 0px 0 !important; .gform_wrapper form.gf_simple_horizontal div.gform_footer.top_label { "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. text-align: center; If you have issues with achy, tired legs, restless legs, and other lesser known symptoms, you still could have an issue with the veins not working properly. Follow-up sessions are required to treat additional veins. There are FDA approved sclerosing solutions which could be used. A catheter is inserted into the patient’s vein. Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs 3. While we do connect people with vetted, board-certified doctors, we don’t provide medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice. The same measures you can take to treat the discomfort from varicose veins at home can help prevent varicose veins, including: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. font-weight: 300; Dermatologists team up to improve patient care, How to care for your skin if you have lupus. Policy. background-image: -webkit-gradient(linear,left top,left bottom,from(#c40000),to(#870000)); Many people get them because they sit or stand for long periods most days of the week. border-color: #ab0000; Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. margin: -12px 0px 5px 0 !important; Can Getting a Port Make Your Cancer Treatment Easier? Most patients wear the compression stockings for 1 to 2 weeks. Your dermatologist then makes a small incision and inserts a laser fiber (for EVLT) or catheter (for RFA) into the vein. width: 100%; Your dermatologist activates the laser or radiofrequency device, which heats up the vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut. To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs must work against gravity. width: 100%!important; Sometimes varicose veins lead to more-serious problems. padding-right: 0px; “When veins are big enough, the blood that pools in them can clot,” he says. Normally, veins return blood from the rest of your body to your heart, so the blood can be recirculated. border-color: #7d0000; Spider veins can also be caused by sunlight, hormonal changes, or an injury. Here's what dermatologists are doing to keep you safe during the coronavirus pandemic. max-width: 100% !important; If you have sclerotherapy, this is what happens during treatment: Your dermatologist injects a chemical into the spider or varicose vein, which irritates the wall of the vein. Varicose veins may not cause any pain. max-width: 85% !important; Pharmacology. and (max-device-width : 1366px) { You can add your own CSS here. width: auto; Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, All you need to know about varicose vein pain. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': One to five sessions, spaced four weeks apart, is typically required. If this happens, it is important to tell a doctor. “Clots can travel through your body, putting you at risk for a pulmonary embolism, which could be life threatening.”. Who should be performing your cosmetic treatment? The veins rarely need treatment for health reasons, but if swelling, aching, and painful legs result, and if there is considerable discomfort, treatment is available. Comparative effectiveness chart for chronic venous insufficiency. In this way, compression stockings encourage proper blood flow upwards, against gravity and back towards the heart. /* text-transform: uppercase; */ Big, blue, bulging veins — called varicose veins — can appear on your legs, too. In most cases, the patient can go home the same day – if surgery is required on both legs, they may need to spend one night in hospital. In time, we see a varicose or spider vein. You can find a dermatologist who treats leg veins by going to, Find a dermatologist and coose the specialty of Cosmetic Dermatology. These will require treatment. Included is detail on prevention, potential causes, and when to see a…, Doctors often recommend compression stockings to improve circulation, prevent varicose veins from becoming worse, and reduce pain and discomfort.