Sclerotherapy Varicose Veins

Sclerotherapy is a technique which is used to treat spider veins. The technique involves injection of an irritant chemical into each spider vein. The amount of the chemical injected in each spider vein is miniscule and most physicians wear magnification glasses to place the fine needle inside the vein. The chemical causes irritation of the vein and collapse of the vein. In a few weeks the spider veins disappears. If the irritant chemical is injected on the outside of the spider vein or if the chemical leaks out, it can cause a severe darkening of the skin.

Varicose veins are many times larger in size compared to spider veins. Sclerotherapy is never used to treat varicose veins. The amount of chemical required would be large and the pain would be enormous. The chemical used to treat spider veins is also fairly expensive.

Varicose veins are more effectively treated with EVLT, stripping or the closure method.

Sclerotherapy for the treatment of spider veins is fast being replaced with laser therapy.