Varicose Veins

In addition to developing wrinkles, every woman will develop some degree of varicose veins during her lifetime. They are more common in women who have had one or more children and in those whose work keeps them on their feet all day. The constant pressure on the leg veins causes them to swell. Then, once the walls of the blood vessels have been stretched, they remain distended.

Although this article is not on the subject of aging wrinkle creams I hope you may find the following of use. Varicose veins may vary in size from a fraction of a millimeter to more than a centimeter. Although they are a cosmetic problem, they can also sometimes be painful. And, for the larger vessels, there exists the possibility of blood clot formation.

Injecting a solution into superficial varicose (spider) veins is a very old practice, one that is more art than science. It is called sclerotherapy and is also used on the larger varicose veins. But not all varicose veins are amenable to sclerotherapy. Some of the tinier varicose veins are too small to inject-even with the smallest of needles. And the extra large, aging blood vessels are best treated with vein stripping, an extensive surgical procedure that requires hospitalization.

The basic concept of sclerotherapy is quite simple. Using the appropriate size needle-several different needle sizes are available to the physician and the choice depends on upon the size of the blood vessel-a solution is injected into the dilated veins. The solution irritates the inner walls of the blood vessels and causes them to constrict and collapse inward. This is called shrinking. It makes the veins invisible.

Several different injectable solutions-called sclerosing solutions or sclerosants-can be used. The most commonly employed sclerosant is a simple salt solution. In fact, sodium chloride in
various concentrations is currently the favorite injectable solution used in sclerotherapy. Other chemicals, such as sodium sotradechol, aethoxysklerol, and concentrated sugar solutions, are available as well. Each one has its own pluses and minuses, but all are considered safe. Exactly how the sclerosing solution works is not clearly understood. Most investigators agree that the inside of the blood vessel wall becomes irritated by the solution and clamps
down on itself, thereby shutting off the blood supply. Others believe that a tiny blood clot is formed, which gradually resolves over the next few weeks leaving a nonworking blood vessel, kind of the opposite of the anti aging techniques described on this site!

Whatever the mechanism, it works. The technique of injecting varicose veins requires a steady hand and a sharp eye. The fine needle is poked through the overlying skin and threaded into the vein. The solution is then injected. If a central vein is chosen, one that feeds other smaller veins, a remarkable phenomenon then occurs. The central vein and all of
its feeder vessels blanch out (turn white) when the sclerosing solution travels through them. This produces a sensation that can range from a mild tingle to a burning flush. Pressure is usually applied immediately afterwards in order to keep the veins compressed.

Tightly wrapped adhesive tape is often applied, sometimes using special creams. At the same office visit, the physician continues to treat the other veins in a similar manner. Sclerotherapy can be backbreaking work for the doctor! Good lighting, a cooperative patient, and good nursing assistance are all important. Usually, the physician will single out a particular segment for that first day’s session-for example, doing only one leg or only one thigh or simply setting a time limit of fifteen to twenty minutes to do whatever can be done in that period.

Treatments can be repeated monthly, in a similar manner to how you should expect the best results from wrinkle cream products – gradually over time. It may take from one to eight sessions, depending on the response to each treatment and on the number of blood vessels involved. And, not to worry, the superficial varicose veins are not needed to maintain normal blood circulation in the leg and thighs.

Therefore, eliminating them with sclerotherapy carries no danger of choking off the essential blood supply to those areas.

Have a read on my reviews of some anti wrinkle products such as Lifecell Anti Wrinkle Cream and Freeze Anti Aging 24/7.