Vein Treatments

Visible veins and red spots on your body are caused by dysfunctional blood vessels. They can be unsightly, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. You may experience this skin condition for several reasons, such as natural aging, genetics, sun exposure, or hormonal changes. You should seek a dermatologist’s expertise for vein treatment, as this condition can lead to more severe symptoms.

At New England Dermatology & Laser Center, we offer laser and sclerotherapy for spider veins and varicose veins for people from Springfield, Longmeadow, and Northampton, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas at our medical spa.

What Are the Different Types of Visible Veins?

The two types of dysfunctional veins we most commonly treat are spider veins and varicose veins.

Spider Veins

These veins are fine, often red or purple, and appear in branch-like clusters. Spider veins are common on the face and legs.

Varicose Veins

These veins are larger and more prominent, often blue or purple, with a knotted, ropey appearance. They typically appear on the lower legs and ankles.

Are Spider and Varicose Veins Just a Cosmetic Concern?

For some people, the most bothersome thing about visible veins is their appearance, but others experience additional adverse symptoms. Particularly with varicose veins, you may experience a heavy feeling in your legs, muscle cramping, itching around the veins, and difficulty sitting or standing for long periods. Even if you only experience mild symptoms, it’s a good idea to seek vein treatment to stop your symptoms from worsening.

What Causes Visible Veins?

Visible veins occur due to weakened valves that cause blood to back up and pool in the veins. Valves can weaken due to gravity or aging, resulting in vein failure, also known as venous insufficiency. Other causes of vein insufficiency include muscle weakness, blood clots, inactivity, and obesity.

Do Vein Treatments Work?

There are several effective vein treatment options available to you. Depending on the severity and type of veins, you can choose a simple treatment, such as wearing support stockings, or a more robust laser treatment or sclerotherapy. If you choose laser treatment or sclerotherapy, you may need multiple sessions for the best results.

Vein Treatments We Offer at Our Med Spa

Our dermatologists may perform an ultrasound screening to diagnose your condition and offer the most effective treatment option.

Sclerotherapy

This treatment is commonly used for spider veins and varicose veins. Your dermatologist will inject a highly concentrated saline solution directly into the vein. The saline solution causes the vein walls to collapse and close, stopping the blood flow to that vein. A few weeks after your treatment, when blood is being re-routed to functional veins, the collapsed vein will break down and fade away.

Vbeam Laser

This pulsed dye laser treatment treats spider veins on the face and body. The laser delivers rapid bursts of light wavelengths to the desired area to break up and eliminate broken blood vessels without damaging the surrounding skin. Most people need 1 to 5 Vbeam laser treatments at 1-to-3-month intervals for the best results.