What treatments for Thread Veins Are available?

Dr Seaton undertakes treatment of thread veins, called sclerotherapy. In this treatment the dermatologist cleans the skin and then carefully inserts a tiny needle into the feeding vessel of each thread vein. The dermatologist then injects a solution into the vein. This causes the thread vein to empty, irritates the inside wall of the vein and usually causes it to seal off within a few days. The treatment is slightly uncomfortable, and usually causes a red swelling to appear around each injected vein for a few hours. Injection sites are taped immediately afterwards and dressing left in place for 48 hours. Injected veins often go black and they clot off and so can look more obvious for a several weeks, before they disappear. For this reason some people prefer to avoid treatment in the spring or summer when legs are more likely to be exposed. Scabbing or crusting may occur a few days after the injections, but scarring is unusual. Laser treatments are also sometimes used.