There are various treatments out there for varicose veins. Many of these are direct outpatient therapy. However, there are surgical procedures available now such as laser treatment and sclerotherapy.
If you have this condition but don’t want to have surgery, there are some lifestyle changes you can try to relieve your symptoms.
Home care tips for varicose veins
- Elevate the affected leg as much as possible. If you are part of a profession that requires you to be on your feet for long hours, try taking a break. It is ideal to elevate your feet above the level of your heart for a good effect. Do it for half an hour at a time.
- Try wearing compression stockings. The ideal approach is to wear it during the morning hours when the veins are less swollen. If you wear them and experience more severe pain when walking, remove them and see a healthcare professional immediately.
- If you are overweight, you should urgently cut fat from your daily diet. A healthy diet rich in fiber, low in fat and low in salt is ideal when you have varicose veins.
- Try to avoid alcohol, which causes blood vessels to dilate.
- Immediately consult a doctor if you have problems such as urinary retention, cough, or constipation accompanied by varicose veins.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing such as a belt or corset.
- Never cross your legs while sitting.
- Walking is an excellent form of exercise Houston Vein Treatment expert. This will help your calf muscles to force blood out of the deeper venous system and be refreshed.
- If you are taking a road trip or traveling by air for a longer period of time, try getting up from your seat and walking around for a few hours every hour. It’s the same if you do your job sitting at a desk all day.
The latest varicose veins treatment
There are many advanced cosmetic treatment methods for getting rid of varicose veins that you can consider. Here we will discuss some of the most standard therapies as below.
Sclerotherapy
The procedure includes injecting a chemical into a vein. It eliminates the possibility of surgical scarring, which makes it ideal for those who are conscious about the beauty of their feet. However, some things to note about sclerotherapy include:
- Sclerotherapy has not been shown to be completely successful in alleviating all the symptoms of varicose veins and preventing their further formation.
- Complications associated with the procedure include allergic reactions, burning at the injection site, stinging sensation, skin ulceration, inflammation, and skin discoloration, etc.
- The bandage should be left for about three weeks at the injection site.
- Compression stockings should be worn after sclerotherapy.
Laser treatment
Lasers are known to be very effective in the treatment of varicose veins, but they are more often used to treat the smaller veins, known medically as telangiectasias.
- The veins being treated may be small, only about 1 mm in diameter and represent dilated capillaries.
- This can cause permanent skin discoloration or changes in skin texture.
- Several sessions may be required for laser therapy.
- Larger varicose veins do not treat well with laser therapy.
However, you need to get proper consultation and opinion from a specialist before proceeding with varicose veins treatment. It is also important to have the treatment procedure carried out at a reputable medical facility by an experienced professional.
Kim Barrett is a doctor, now specializing in Houston Vein Medicine. He has also written a comprehensive book on spider vein treatment.
