Varicose veins are gnarled, oversized deep purple or blue veins that you can see under your skin. They’re most common in your lower legs, since they result from blood pooling in the veins instead of being pumped back to the heart properly. Varicose veins can be unsightly, making you feel uncomfortable and less confident. Worse, they can become painful or itchy or have a burning sensation.
You can try to prevent varicose veins on your own. These easy home treatments can work well, but they’re not always effective. If you don’t make progress, it’s best to visit a South Jersey vein doctor for a consultation about treatment options.
Try Home Treatments First
These strategies can help reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
- Lose weight if you are overweight since the extra weight puts more strain on your legs.
- Do not sit or stand motionless for hours since still making it more difficult for your legs to return the blood to your heart.
- Wear compression socks that put pressure on your legs to help them return blood to your heart instead of letting it pool in your veins.
- Ice your legs to reduce pain.
- Elevate your legs when sitting to help the blood return to your heart.
- Exercise regularly to improve circulation.
If these treatments don’t work for you, make an appointment with a vein clinic to explore more intensive vein treatment options.
New Jersey Vein Treatment
Vascular surgeons can provide more aggressive treatment compared to the simple remedies you try at home. You’ll need to sit down with South Jersey vein doctors to discuss your situation and determine which option is right for you. These are some of the current approaches to getting rid of varicose veins.
- Sclerotherapy – small injections of a solution that causes veins to gradually fade over the course of weeks or months. It can also be done with ultrasound to make the process more accurate.
- Microphlebectomy – injections into unhealthy medium-sized veins, so that blood flow is diverted to healthy veins.
- Laser therapy – (endovenous laser therapy) laser treatment that takes less than an hour and has immediate results. It has a success rate of 98 percent.
These therapies are outpatient procedures that are relatively quick and have few side effects. When used appropriately, they can be highly effective.
You may not think varicose veins are worthy of going to a vein clinic, but they are if simple home remedies don’t work. South Jersey vein doctors are ready to assist you in selecting the right vein treatment for your situation. There’s no reason to give in to varicose veins without a fight!