More likely than not, sclerotherapy will be one of the treatment options that will be made available to you if you are diagnosed with spider veins. But what is it, and what can you expect from the treatment? Here, we hope to answer any queries you may be having about the sclerotherapy, as well as provide you with a more rounded understanding of the procedure — so you can make the most educated choice when you decide on a treatment.

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that involves injecting a chemical solution into the capillaries that form spider veins, which causes them to close so that the blood is rerouted and flows through healthy veins¹,². The substance used in sclerotherapy is called sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STD) and can be a liquid or foam¹,². It works by damaging the inner lining of the capillaries (the smallest of the blood vessels in our body), which causes a clot, and effectively blocks the flow of blood through the vessels¹,².

What can I expect to happen?

Sclerotherapy takes about an hour to perform and is usually carried out under local anaesthetic in a doctor’s surgery³,⁴,⁵. You will be asked to lie face up for the duration of the procedure⁵. If foam is injected, the doctor will be guided by ultrasound scanning: ensuring the precise delivery of the chemical into your blood vessels³,⁴. The advantage with using foam is that it’s possible to treat larger veins that are located deeper within the skin, with relatively small amounts of the solution⁴.

Both liquid and foam sclerotherapy are normally painless, although you may experience some light stinging when the chemical is injected. The doctor will apply a compression pad and tape to the site of injection, to prevent blood from flowing back into the treated vessels.⁵

What about after the procedure?

You will need to keep the pad and tape in place for about 48 hours⁷. In addition, you may be asked to wear compression stockings, if your spider veins have appeared on your legs, to help prevent the occurrence of blood clots, for up to 72 hours or more³,⁴,⁵,⁷. Once the tape is removed, you will likely notice some bruises, but do not be alarmed— these will gradually fade away within a few weeks⁷.

You will be able to return to your normal activities immediately after the procedure³,⁵,⁷. However, it’s important to avoid strenuous physical activities, such as lifting weights, for a couple of weeks⁵,⁷. Your doctor may also advise you to walk for at least half an hour every day; it aids the healing process and avoid complications such as blood clots⁵,⁷.

Does sclerotherapy for spider veins work?

Sclerotherapy may improve their appearance especially where other symptoms, such as swelling of burning affect your ability to live a normal life⁶. Your spider veins will start to become less noticeable after treatment, but it will take a few weeks before they disappear completely³,⁸. You may need to undergo sclerotherapy more than once, to achieve your desired results, and there is a chance that some of the veins will return³,⁷.

What are the pros and cons of sclerotherapy?

If you are thinking about having sclerotherapy, it’s a good idea to discuss with your doctor the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure first. This way, you’ll be better able to make an informed decision. For example, advantages to consider include the fact that sclerotherapy is generally a quick procedure, with minimal impact on everyday activities, and yields good results within a few weeks. However, like all treatments, sclerotherapy can have side effects. These may include inflammation, allergic reactions, skin ulceration, backache, headaches, fainting, and short-term eyesight problems³,⁴,⁷,⁹. It has also been associated with an increased risk for serious complications, including deep venous thrombosis due to a blood clot as well as stroke, however this is relatively rare³,⁴,⁷,⁹.

What other treatment options are available?

You may also want to look at alternative treatments. Laser therapy, for instance, could potentially be an option if you are allergic to the chemical substance that is used in sclerotherapy, your damaged blood vessels are too small, or you are frightened by needles¹⁰. It has been claimed that it can be as effective as sclerotherapy at treating spider veins, although you may experience slightly more pain during the procedure¹⁰.

There is also, however, a wide variety of natural treatment options for spider veins — consider with your doctor’s guidance. Scientific evidence suggests, for instance, that consumption of plant extracts and foods rich in antioxidants can help improve your condition. An example of plant compounds high in antioxidants is polyphenols. They are naturally found in dark berries, chestnuts, flax seeds, black grape, ginger, green tea, and apples¹². They work by repairing and renewing the levels of collagen in our body: an essential component of our skin and blood vessels¹³,¹⁴,¹⁵. But, as we age collagen levels naturally decrease. This mainly occurs as we age but also as a result of the damaging effects of sun radiation on the collagen which forms a major part of our capillary walls. This results in the capillaries under the skin becoming weaker and spider veins develop¹⁶,¹⁷. Plant polyphenols, however, have been shown to promote the production of new collagen, effectively protect collagen that is already present in your body from sun damage, and to repair collagen that has been damaged¹⁸.

Remember that the choice of treatment will depend on many factors, in addition to those described above, so make sure you discuss them thoroughly with your doctor. The information provided in this article, prepared by Nature’s Best, is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. However, to find out more about spider veins and collagen, or other treatment options, explore our website or speak to one of our Nutrition Advisors.

References

1. Schwartz L, Maxwell H. Sclerotherapy for lower limb telangiectasias. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(12): CD008826. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008826.pub2/full
2. Douketis J. MSD Manuals Professional Version. Varicose veins, treatment. 2016. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/peripheral-venous-disorders/varicose-veins#v941547
3. NHS Choices. Treating varicose veins. 2014. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Varicose-veins/Pages/Treatment.aspx
4. Circulation Foundation. Varicose veins – injection treatment or sclerotherapy. Accessed 7 March 2017 from https://www.circulationfoundation.org.uk/help-advice/veins/varicose-veins-injection-treatment-or-sclerotherapy
5. Mayo Clinic. Sclerotherapy. What can you expect. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sclerotherapy/details/what-you-can-expect/rec-20167813
6. Mayo Clinic. Sclerotherapy. Why it’s done. Accessed March 17 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sclerotherapy/details/why-its-done/icc-20167806
7. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Health. Spider veins/Frequently asked questions. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://venouscenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=24
8. Mayo Clinic. Sclerotherapy. Results. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sclerotherapy/details/results/rsc-20167824
9. Mayo Clinic Sclerotherapy. Risks. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/sclerotherapy/details/risks/cmc-20167809
10. Parlar B, Blazeck C, Cazzaniga S, et al. Treatment of lower extremity telangiectasias in women by foam sclerotherapy vs. Nd:YAG laser: a prospective, comparative, randomized, open-label trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol
11. Venereol. 2015;29(3):549-54. Accessed 7 March 2017 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25069999
12. WebMD. Laser treatment for varicose veins. Accessed 7 March 2017 from http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/laser-treatment-for-varicose-veins
13. Pérez-Jiménez J, Neveu V, Vos F, et al. Identification of the 100 richest dietary sources of polyphenols: an application of the Phenol-Explorer database. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010;64(Suppl 3):S112-20. Accessed 6 March 2017 from http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v64/n3s/fig_tab/ejcn2010221t1.html
14. DERM101. Blood vessels – embryologic, histologic, and anatomic aspects. Accessed 6 March 2017 from https://www.derm101.com/inflammatory/embryologic-histologic-and-anatomic-aspects/blood-vessels/
15. Wagenseil JE, Mecham RP. Vascular extracellular matrix and arterial mechanics. Physiol Rev. 2009;89(3):957-89. Accessed 6 March 2017 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2775470/
16. Yokoi K, Kojic M, Milosevic M, et al Capillary-wall collagen as a biophysical marker of nanotherapeutic permeability into the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Res. 2014;74(16):4239-46. Accessed 27 February 2017 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134692/
17. Weiss R. Varicose veins and spider veins. Medscape Drugs and Diseases. 2016. Accessed 20 February 2017 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1085530-overview#showall
18. NHS Choices. Varicose veins. 2014. Accessed 20 February 2017 from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Varicose-veins/Pages/Whatarevaricoseveins.aspx
19. Dzialo M, Mierziak J, Korzun U, et al. The potential of plant phenolics in prevention and therapy of skin disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(2):160. Accessed 6 march 2017 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4783894/

 

Lorena Tonarelli

Lorena Tonarelli M.Sc. is a health journalist and medical writer with over 10 years of experience in covering the latest developments in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Her work appears in national newspapers such as the Times and the Guardian, as well as magazines and websites for healthcare professionals and decision makers in the pharmaceutical industry.