Treatments Options For Spider Veins

Friday 30th April 2010

What are the options for spider vein treatment?

Sclerotherapy is the 'gold standard' for eliminating spider veins and small reticular leg veins. Multiple injections of a sclerosing agent are injected into the abnormal red, blue or purple spider veins of the involved leg. Injecting the unwanted veins with the sclerosing solution causes the target vein to immediately shrink, and then dissolve over a period of weeks as the body naturally resorbs the treated vein. The FDA has recently approved the sclerosing agent, polidocanol, for treatment of spider veins. Injection of this drug is painless and it has a good safety profile.

Prescription compression stockings should be worn for one week after treatment to ensure a successful outcome. Patients are encouraged to walk at least thirty minutes every day during that time. The patient usually requires at least 2-3 treatment sessions separated by several weeks to significantly improve the appearance of their legs.

Are there side effects?

Side effects of treatment may include pain and swelling of the leg for a few days after injection. Rarely, brown discoloration over the vein or scarring may occur. In women taking estrogen-containing drugs, the formation of tiny, new blood vessels in the treated area can occur within a month after treatment but this usually resolves spontaneously by 6 months. Cosmetic lasers can be used to treat these tiny vessels.

Can laser be used to treat spider veins?

For smaller spiders, laser therapy may be used with excellent results. Nd YAG lasers can erase these veins with little or no darkening of the skin, and compression stockings are not required to be worn after the procedure. More than one treatment session may be necessary to completely clear your veins.

Will my spider veins return?

Usually the treated veins do not return. However, if you suffer from underlying venous hypertension or varicose veins, new spider veins may open up in the same areas after successful treatment. If this occurs, you should see a specialist in venous disorders, who will examine your legs with duplex ultrasound. This test can determine if your deeper veins are involved. If they are, correction of the underlying problem may eliminate these smaller veins.

Robin Fleck, M.D is a double-board certified dermatologist and internist, recognized by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

She is the founder and Medical Director of Vein Specialties in Prescott, Arizona and is a member of the American College of Phlebology and the American Venous Forum.

For more information about venous disorders visit our website at http://prescottvein.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Fleck,_M.D.

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More Natural Skin Care Recipes

Tuesday 17th November 2009

Due to the popularity of our previous post 5 Home Made Face Masks To Revive Winter Skin . Lorynne from Caribbean Tan has come up with more fabulous skin care recipes that we can all try at home.

Take it away Lorynne...

There's no doubt that 2009's woes (the recession, global warming, and political uncertainty) have reeked havoc on our health and the weight of the World is a story now finely engraved in our skin.

There is hope; Found in a skin care regime that will not only single handedly decrease your carbon footprint, but at the same time, keep you looking well and fit through the last of the recession. Yes people, it is time to go au natural. A few minutes of preparation and some simple, edible ingredients is all it takes to create a safer, chemical free and cost effective skin care regime. Think avocado facials, olive oil moisturisers and sea salt exfoliators. Mother Nature will provide.

Avocado Facial :

Fact - Avocado is rich in oil and fatty acids, omega three and six, both good for you on the inside and out.
Recipe - Mash the avocado flesh into a creamy texture. Massage into the face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off.

Baking Soda Cleanser :

Fact - As companies move away from using harsh chemicals, baking soda is gaining popularity out of the kitchen and is now being used in commercial products, from shampoo to industrial cleansers.
Recipe - Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of your favorite face lotion or cleanser. Using small circular motions, rub the mixture gently into your face then rinse and moisturise as usual.

Baking Soda And Sea Salt Exfoliator :

Fact - Every one of the body's 92 essential minerals is also found in the ocean.
Recipe - Take a small cup and mix a teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 a teaspoon of sea salt. The baking soda will polish the skin and the sea salt will perform the scrubbing action. The salt grains reduce in size once applied to the skin. The results are baby smooth with a definite glow.

Olive Oil Moisturiser :

Fact - Olive oil can be used to soothe sunburn. it is a natural moisturiser, keeping moisture secure within the skin.
Recipe - Use plain virgin olive oil. Rub a generous amount all over your body (including the face).

Lemon And Egg Facial Mask :

Fact - Lemon acts as a bleach, eliminating blotches and skin blemishes.
Recipe - Mix the juice of half a lemon with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight, or for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.

And for your hair you have got to try...

Fruit Smoothie Hair Mask :

Fact - Fruits are said to be high in vitamins and minerals that we are able to absorb through our skin and hair adding strength, moisture and volume.
Recipe - Blend 1/2 a Banana, 1/4 of an avocado, 1/4 of a cantaloupe, 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil and 1 tablespoon of yogurt. For extra conditioning squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in the hair for 15 minutes.

These sound great guys, so if you ever give one of these recipes a try let us know about it.

Thanks once again to Lorynne from caribbeantan.co.uk for the brilliant post, and I will be back again tomorrow.

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5 Home Made Face Masks To Revive Winter Skin.

Wednesday 7th October 2009

The winter is fast approaching, and as the climate changes, so does our skin.

Colder weather can have a real damaging and drying effect on our skin, particularly on the more exposed areas such as the hands and face.

I have managed to put together these top face masks that you can make at home, right now.

1. Avocado Mask.
Mash a whole avocado roughly with a fork and add a dash of olive oil. Apply the mixture
evenly over your skin and leave for around ten minutes. This will supply your face with some
essential vitamins and minerals to help fight that winter dryness.

2. Natural Yogurt
If you are looking to revive tired skin, then grab a tub of natural yogurt from the refrigerator
and apply a little to your face. Pay particular attention to avoiding the delicate eye area with
this one! Relax for fifteen minutes and rinse well with tepid water.

3. Banana Mask
Perfect for those of us who have combination skin, this banana mask is good enough to eat.
Mix a little mashed banana with some fresh cream and apply to your face. Leave it to set for
thirty minutes. This mask is excellent for smoothing, softening and moisturising the skin,
adding that much needed nourishment for cold, harsh days.

4. Lemon Apple Mask
Oily skin would seriously benefit from this simple concoction. Just put 1 teaspoon of apple juice
and half a teaspoon of lemon juice into a bowl and stir well. Rub the mixture onto your face and
rinse off after twenty minutes.

5. Egg and Honey Mask
A fantastic winter face mask for oily skin, to vastly improve your complexion. Simply beat
one egg and add enough honey to make a paste. Apply this paste evenly over the face and
leave for just ten minutes. Rinse well and pat your face dry.

There are so many wonderful ingredients in our cupboards that we can use for more than just dinner.

Try these wonderful face masks for yourself, or if you have a recipe of your own please feel free to share it with us.

See you again tomorrow!

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