Dr. Gerald Peters and the dedicated medical team of Peters Dermatology Center help patients with varicose veins in Bend, OR. Varicose veins are harmless but some people are unhappy with their appearance and we can help. Keep reading about varicose veins and learn how we can treat them.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are veins that become visible through the skin. This happens when the veins are not functioning properly. They most commonly appear in the legs on the face. Varicose veins appear swollen and can be painful. Spider veins are similarly caused by veins that twist and turn, but they affect the capillaries, the body’s smallest blood vessels.
What Causes Varicose Veins?
All your veins have valves that help keep blood flowing toward your heart. When these valves become weak or damaged, blood can flow the opposite way, pooling in veins or even flowing backward and making them swell. The weakness or damage can happen due to a variety of factors.
Varicose veins are very common and often become more apparent as you age. Females develop more varicose veins and if your family members have them you could be prone to varicose veins. Obesity and being sedentary can increase varicose veins.
How Are Varicose Veins Treated?
Varicose veins don't always cause symptoms but some people experience pain and itching and many people are displeased with how they look in certain areas. Treatment of varicose veins will often involve your doctor making lifestyle recommendations. Losing weight and exercising regularly will improve your overall health and can help keep varicose veins from getting worse.
We can help improve their appearance with various noninvasive treatments that block off a vein. Surgery or varicose veins is typically only considered when the veins are very painful or other measures haven't improved symptoms. At Peters Dermatology Center, Dr. Gerald Peters treats varicose veins in Bend, OR. Contact us for an appointment at (541) 323-7546.