Seek relief from varicose veins
Varicosities (varicose veins) are not a pleasant sight. These enlarged, swollen and twisted veins form just beneath the skin, usually on the lower legs, and become overfilled with blood. Varicosities could affect the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV), which runs from the big toe to the groin, or the many branches which extend from this main vein. They may or may not be painful but are a concern due to their appearance.
Symptoms include:
- Dark purple or blue veins
- Veins that seem to be twisted and bulging
- Achy or heavy feeling in legs
- Burning, throbbing, swelling, and muscle cramping in lower legs
- Increased pain after sitting or standing for a long time
- Itching and/or discoloration around veins
Two effective treatments for varicose veins are Endovenous Laser Ablation and Endovenous Chemical Ablation. The first method treats the GSV. A 1320nm Nd: YAG laser, guided by ultrasound, is introduced into the vein, closing it. This causes many of the other veins to close on their own. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, involves little discomfort and doesn’t require general anesthesia.
The second method involves the injecting of a sclerosant into the branch veins under ultrasound guidance, closing them. It takes about 10 minutes and is painless. With both procedures, the patient must wear compression stockings for 24 hours a day for one week, then 12 hours a day for another week.
Call Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amanda Lloyd of Skin and Vein Institute in Encinitas, CA at (760) 642-6674 for relief from varicose veins.
