Do you have unsightly varicose veins? Find out how they could be eliminated.
Varicose veins: this unsightly little issue may not be serious to your health, but it can make you embarrassed to wear shorts or skirts during the warmer months. While anyone can get varicose veins, these visibly enlarged veins affect women more. If you have varicose veins that you desperately want to get rid of, our King of Prussia, PA, vascular doctor Dr. James McGuckin has answers on how to treat this cosmetic issue.
What Can Cause Varicose Veins?
Many things can be responsible for the development of varicose veins, including,
- Obesity
- Taking birth control pills
- Hormonal fluctuations (e.g., pregnancy; menopause)
- Professions that require you to stand most of the day
- Heredity
- A personal history of blood clots
- Trauma to the skin
What Are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?
Those with varicose veins are also more likely to experience cramping, pain, restlessness, burning, tingling or even heaviness in their legs. Those with varicose veins may find that their symptoms improve when elevating their feet or wearing compression stockings.
What Are Some Ways To Treat Varicose Veins?
There are many options for how to manage your condition:
Wear compression stockings: This is usually the easiest approach. You can find these medical stockings at your local pharmacy in many different styles, which can help reduce some of your pain and discomfort.
Make some changes to your lifestyle: If obesity is causing your varicose veins, you can manage your symptoms by dedicating time and energy to exercise, eating healthier and losing weight to maintain a healthier weight.
Try sclerotherapy: Talk to our King of Prussia, PA, vascular doctor about whether sclerotherapy is the ideal way to treat your varicose veins. During this procedure, saline solution is injected directly into the veins, causing them to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body.
Consider laser treatment: This procedure uses a specialized laser directed at the veins to cause them to collapse. Just like sclerotherapy, this laser treatment is performed as an outpatient procedure but will require local anesthesia to reduce any discomfort during the treatment.
Surgery: Sometimes, surgery is the best course of action for treating larger varicose veins. Surgery requires either tying off the vein or removing it completely.
If you want to finally say goodbye to varicose veins, then it’s time you scheduled a consultation with our King of Prussia, PA, vascular doctor. Call Pennsylvania Vascular Institute at (800) 296-9294.