Spider veins

Spider veins are dilated, superficially located veins in the skin. They are usually harmless. Only in rare cases is there a condition of the deeper veins. They often appear as a blue or reddish stain. Upon closer inspection, you can see the finest capillaries arranged like a spiderweb in the skin. Feather- or fan-shaped or only sparsely arranged, finest small blood vessels also frequently appear. The term "Besenreiser" (spider veins) is due to the type of arrangement and configuration of the tiny vessels. Since one might also think of a twig broom (Reisigbesen), the term "Besenreiser" originated in folk language a long time ago.

There are several methods we use to remove spider veins: A solution can be injected into the tiny veins, causing them to collapse. The technical term for this procedure is sclerotherapy. The medication causes the walls of the spider veins to stick together, cutting off blood flow. The veins are then slowly broken down by the body and fade after a few weeks. Sometimes the skin in the affected area may take on a brownish discoloration. After the sclerotherapy, you should wear a compression stocking for a few days. In most cases, a single treatment is not sufficient; you will need to undergo the procedure several times.

An alternative is laser therapy. In this procedure, the spider veins are cauterized by the laser's energy. The procedure is suitable for very fine veins. Laser treatment does not leave scars, but skin pigment changes can also occur. The patient will also need to wear compression stockings for a certain period afterwards and schedule multiple treatment appointments.