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Before you read anything about 'spider veins,' don't freak out over the name; it has nothing to do with actual spiders, we promise.
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias in the scientific community, are blood vessels that are highly visible underneath the skin. Usually, they occur underneath the skin of our limbs, but it's been known to appear more or less anywhere on the body in a web-like fashion, similar to a spider's web.
If you think it's just visibly unpleasant and nothing to worry about, think again. More than 40 million people in the United States alone suffer from this problem. Almost half of all women are at risk of developing spider or varicose veins (a very similar and related disease), and it's highly likely to be passed down genetically. Read further, and we'll explain to you all the dangers and causes of spider veins and how you can tackle this problem safely and effectively.
As mentioned before, spider veins can steam from something called varicose veins, which is a similar type of vein disease. Varicose veins are swollen veins that become apparent just underneath the skin's surface. Disruptions and irregularities in blood pressure throughout the body can cause some veins to enlarge. All this built-up blood and pressure can lead the way to further problems and the development of spider veins.
Know that varicose veins can lead to spider veins and not the other way around. Apart from making the skin look lumpy and twisted, it can also cause irritated skin, swollen parts of the body, aching, and muscle cramps. So, needless to say, it's not just a cosmetic problem that many people feel insecure about, but something that can affect a regular, active lifestyle.
Currently, not much progress has been made in the medical field to tackle spider or varicose veins, other than the recommendation of wearing compression stockings or clothing to help reduce swelling. The only area making huge hurdles in helping people overcome this vein disorder is light therapy.
Light therapy, specifically blue light therapy, uses low-wavelength blue-colored light with a combination of heat to help various surface skin and internal body issues. Shining the non-UV light on the problematic body area for 10 minutes a day has been proven to positively affect issues such as acne, skin texture, sun damage, enlarged skin glands, scarring, and of course, vein disorders, to name a few.
So how does blue light therapy work? The light promotes blood circulation and helps it deliver oxygen and other nutrients to various parts of the body. This is key to helping battle spider veins or varicose, seeing that the main problem is irregular blood flow.
The light will, over time, reduce the swelling and blood build-up and naturally reduce their appearance underneath the skin, eventually dissolving them completely. It's a non-invasive and non-pharmacological method, so you can use blue light therapy freely. Whatever stage of vein disorder you may be experiencing, try blue light therapy to get your life back on track.
Luckily, Kaiyan Medical produces MDSAP-certified and FDA-approved light therapy products and devices for your own at-home treatment or even for your patients. We've worked hard to provide solutions for both patients and healthcare practitioners, catering to various needs. Whether you're looking to private label your own light therapy devices or for home use, contact our team, as we would love to help you through your light therapy journey.
Medical spas often recommend Blue light therapy for spider veins because they don’t have to be administered by trained doctors. And, yes, after several expensive sessions, you might start seeing a difference. The most effective method to treat spider veins is Sclerotherapy. We’ll also discuss the benefits of using Sclerotherapy is an effective alternative.
Before discussing how to treat spider veins with blue light therapy or sclerotherapy, we need to discuss what causes spider veins.
Spider Veins, scientifically called Telangiectasias, are a small network of blood vessels visible just under the skin's surface. They are called “spider veins” because they look like red spider webs.
Spider veins generally occur on the legs, feet, thighs, and face. They can also cause slight pain and discomfort.
While spider veins aren’t dangerous in and of themselves, they can indicate underlying vein disease.
Vein Disease, also known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency, is a disease in which the valves in the veins malfunction. The valves are usually supposed to act as one-way doors and facilitate blood flow to the heart. However, when they malfunction, blood flows back down and pools around the legs. This can put pressure on the veins and lead to spider veins or varicose veins.
While spider veins themselves aren’t dangerous, vein disease is hazardous and needs to be treated immediately. If left untreated, venous insufficiency can result in bleeding, skin infections, and ulcers.
In the worst-case scenario, vein disease can also lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis, a medical condition in which blood clots in the veins. If the clotted blood breaks, it can get carried to the lungs, leading to a potentially fatal condition called Pulmonary Embolism.
Light Therapy under the blue wavelength for spider veins is a method in which blue light is used to treat spider veins. This light is non-UV in nature and emits photons that generate heat. The heat can destroy the damaged blood vessel over time. The damaged vein shrinks and eventually dissolves.
The only time that blue light therapy for spider veins has an advantage over sclerotherapy is when it comes to the foot or face.
Both the face and the foot are dense with venous-arterial connections. When using Sclerotherapy, the Sclero has to be injected into the veins. Injecting it into the arteries can be dangerous. Most conservative physicians prefer not to use Sclerotherapy for spider veins in the face or foot.
As such, it’s better to go for blue light therapy for spider veins in the face or foot.
Sclerotherapy is the most effective and permanent method to treat spider veins. It is a minimally-invasive procedure in which a medicine called Sclerosant is injected into the damaged vein.
The Sclerosant inflicts some chemical damage to the veins, which leads to the vein walls sticking together and eventually closing up. The blood is then routed to healthier veins, and the damaged vein eventually gets reabsorbed.
There are multiple advantages of using Sclerotherapy to treat spider veins:
Do you have varicose veins or have clients with varicose veins? If so, you may be wondering about the various treatment options. Before we talk about treatment, let’s dive into what varicose veins are and what causes them.
Varicose veins, while they may look aesthetically displeasing, cause more problems than meets the eye. These veins can become swollen and enlarged, typically occurring on the legs and feet. They may look blue or dark purple and are usually bulging, lumpy, and twisted in appearance.
The real symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins’ cosmetic appearance is the least of the issues that come with the condition. Other symptoms of varicose veins include:
While these symptoms occur year-round, they're typically worse during warm weather or if the person has been standing for an extended period of time. The cause of varicose veins is the small valves inside the veins malfunctioning, and the weakened blood flow collects in the veins and enlarges the area. Typically, people who stand for long periods of time, are older, overweight, or pregnant are more likely to develop varicose veins.
While varicose veins don’t have life-threatening effects on the body, they can result in long-term swelling, ulcers, and non healing sores.
What are the causes of varicose veins?
Shockingly, in the United States alone, over 40 million people have been diagnosed with varicose veins, around 12.5 percent of the country's population. However, little has been done to provide effective treatment for varicose veins. If the varicose veins aren't causing discomfort, most doctors suggest compression stockings, exercise, and elevating the affected area.
Of course, making lifestyle changes and wearing compression stockings can help reduce the size of varicose veins. However, there’s one particular treatment that eliminates the appearance of varicose veins. Light therapy has shown promising results for treating varicose veins.
Varicose veins and red light therapy
Now, you may have wondered, “does red light therapy help varicose veins?” And the answer is yes. While repeated treatments are needed to remove the appearance of varicose veins fully, the treatments are painless and highly effective. In addition, blue or red light therapy for varicose veins is ideal for those who aren’t looking for invasive treatment options.
But how does the treatment work?
The low-level pulsed light enters the varicose vein, creating heat that shrinks the area, reducing the appearance. While targeting the varicose vein, the surrounding tissue is not harmed, making it not only an effective but safe treatment option.
While typically used on the legs, the treatment can also be used on the face, arms, thighs, abdomen, ankles, and other parts of the body. Meaning, wherever you have varicose veins, light therapy will be able to treat the affected area and may take between two to six treatments before achieving optimal results. In addition, red light therapy does not need to be administered by a doctor - it can be done at a medical spa or dermatologist.
Luckily, Kaiyan Medical produces MDSAP-certified and FDA-approved light therapy products and devices for your own at-home treatment or even for your patients. We've worked hard to provide solutions for both patients and healthcare practitioners, catering to various needs. Whether you're looking to private label your own light therapy devices or for home use, contact our team, as we would love to help you through your light therapy journey.
