Sclerotherapy

What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy effectively reduces and eliminates spider veins and small varicose veins. The treatment involves injections into the affected veins. The injection contains a sclerosant (fluid or chemical foam) that irritates the inner walls of the veins.

The veins collapse, stopping blood from flowing through them. Your body automatically reroutes the blood through healthy veins. The collapsed veins fade and gradually disappear in the weeks and months following your treatment.

Why would I need sclerotherapy?

Central Utah Dermatology offer sclerotherapy as one of several options for treating spider veins and varicose veins:

Spider veins

Spider veins are networks of tiny blood vessels that make patterns on your skin like a spider web. They’re usually red, blue, or purple. While not harmful, people often find them unsightly.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are also shades of red, blue, or purple, but they’re much more significant than spider veins. They often stand out from the skin, forming twisted coils that may be tender to touch. Your legs might feel tired and heavy. 

If you have severe varicose veins, you might get leg pain, skin discoloration, and leg swelling.

Varicose veins develop when you have circulation problems. They usually appear on your legs because blood is more likely to pool there. The blood pools result from faulty valves in your veins (chronic venous insufficiency).

The valves should stop blood from going back down the legs when it’s supposed to travel to your heart. But if they’re faulty, trickles of blood escape and collect in the veins. This is what forms varicose veins. 

Untreated varicose veins can lead to tissue breakdown and problems like venous ulcers.

What happens when I undergo sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is an in-office treatment at Central Utah Dermatology. Your provider uses tiny needles to inject the sclerosant into the target veins. 

The procedure might cause brief stinging sensations. If you’re worried about any discomfort or don’t like needles, your provider can use a numbing cream on your skin before the injection.

Your provider uses ultrasound guidance for some veins. This technology provides a view of the needle entering the vein to ensure they deliver the injection in precisely the right place. After a sclerotherapy session, you can continue with your day as usual. However, avoiding vigorous activities for about a week is a good idea. 

Some patients benefit from wearing bandages for a couple of days, then compression stockings for two weeks. The pressure from the stockings supports your leg veins while the area heals.

To find out how sclerotherapy can rid you of problem veins, call the nearest Central Utah Dermatology office or book a visit online today.