Spider veins are superficial veins that congregate just below the surface of the skin. These veins cause a series of blue or purple discolorations. The name spider vein comes from the shape of the discolorations, which look like tiny spider legs. These types of veins are not harmful but they are unsightly and can make you feel uncomfortable. People that have a lot of spider veins may be hesitant to wear shorts or a bathing suit.
Spider veins are commonly found on the thighs, the ankles and on the calves. Unfortunately, spider veins are more common in women than in men. The cause of spider veins may be obesity, pregnancy or it may be hereditary.
Spider veins can be treated. The most common treatment to get rid of spider veins is sclerotherapy. A sclerosing agent is injected into the tiny spider veins to make them dissolve. But many people want to know what is a sclerosing agent for spider veins?
A sclerosing agent used to treat spider veins may be Polidocanol or a Hypertonic solution which is nothing more than concentrated salt water. The Polidocanol is the most widely used sclerosing agent, but it has not been approved by the FDA. It has virtually no side effects. Polidocanol does not cause staining and it does not leave scar tissue or cause much discomfort. The risk of side effects from Polidocanol is rare.
When thinking about what is sclerosing agent for spider veins, one would not think that salt water could be used. But a concentrated salt solution has been used for many years to destroy spider veins. The Hypertonic saline solution does not produce allergic reactions, but it can cause discomfort and cramping at the injection sites. The concentrated salt water solution can also cause small ulcerations at the injection site which can leave a scar when they heal.
It is important to keep in mind that improvement of the appearance of these spider veins will not be immediate. The appearance of the veins may take up to six months to fade completely. The average person will get more than a 60% improvement in the clearing of the spider veins.
Unfortunately a sclerosing agent will not work on all types of spider veins. Larger spider veins do not respond well to sclerotherapy and the tiniest of spider veins may not be large enough to be injected.
So when considering using a sclerosing agent for spider veins, talk to the cosmetic surgeon who will be giving you the injections. The surgeon should be able to give you good information on the different types of solutions and give you advice on which one is right for you.
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