“I just want to wear shorts again.” I hear this time and time again from my patients who are so embarrassed by their spider and/or varicose veins they won’t even wear shorts in private, let alone in public. Although a patient may be considering the cosmetic value of vein treatment, they should also be concerned with the health value. It may be obvious why major vein problems should be treated, but it’s impor¬tant to treat minor vein problems as well. They will typically only get worse over time until what was once a minor issue becomes a major problem. Early treatment is a good safeguard against serious health consequences later. To differentiate between the two types, varicose veins occur when the degree of damage to the vein is severe enough to cause it to enlarge and bulge out beyond the surface of the skin. Spider veins, on the other hand, are the tiny blue, red or purple veins that weave under the skin like a spider’s web. Many people — both women and men — suffer from varying degrees of varicose and/or spider veins. Their symptoms (particularly with varicose veins) may include pain, throbbing, cramp¬ing, itching, numbness, swollen ankles or a burning sensation. In addition a person may experience fatigue, decreased energy levels and chronic tiredness. In advanced cases, discolorations of the skin and leg ulcers are a manifestation; this is the result of blood actually leaking into the surround¬ing tissue. Any of these symptoms, from mild to severe, should be discussed with a physician who has expertise in venous care. Continuous pain in one or both legs can be indicative of a deep thrombosis (blood clot) — see your physician at once. Although we usually think of vein issues affecting the legs, they also may appear on the face or chest. Regardless of where they materialize, the development of varicose and spider veins can be due to a variety of reasons. The buildup of pressure in the veins is the usual culprit behind spider veins. Varicose veins can be caused by hormonal changes, such as puberty, birth control pills, preg¬nancy, menopause and hormone replacement therapy. Being overweight, receiving an injury to the area, standing or sitting for a prolonged time and simply getting older may all cause venous trouble. Oh, and let’s not forget grandma — the bulk of venous troubles are indeed hereditary. Remember seeing your grandma, or great-grandma, in her sporty support hose? Although the venerable support hose still serve a purpose, she would be thrilled with the advancements in vein therapies — if she were seeing a phlebologist, that is. Many physicians are not aware of the latest in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disorders, and as a result, many people are told there is nothing that the doctor can do. In the case of women of childbearing age, they are often told to withhold treatment until after their pregnancy. (In reality, women with venous conditions should seek treatment before or between pregnancies.) To the other extreme, a physician may advocate invasive surgery, although there are many nonsurgical options. This is why it is vital, when seeking any type of vein treatment, that you always seek out a physician with venous care experience or one with a phlebology background — even if it’s for spider vein treatment. Phlebology is a relatively new specialty in medicine, at least here in the U.S. A dedicated specialty in Europe for 50 years, it has been gaining ground here for the last 15, and is now an AMA-sanctioned specialty. This area of expertise is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of varicose and spider veins, which affect more than 80 million Americans. A phlebology specialist realizes that every prob¬lem that appears on the surface, as minor as it may seem, is usually a result of some underly¬ing problem. This is the reason some people who have been treated previously with injec¬tions, surgery or laser therapy did not get good results or had a recurrence of the problem. A specialist will properly assess your individual situation and provide you with the appropriate treatment options so the underlying problem doesn’t resurface. You will feel comfortable wearing shorts again! Dr. Sidney Kass is a phlebology specialist at Kass Clinic’s in St. Louis Park.
