89% of Thread Veins Hide Underlying Problem

Thread veins or spider veins on the legs may not be just a cosmetic problem, according to research. 

A study has shown that 89% of people with leg and ankle thread veins were found to have an underlying leg vein problem. Thread veins can be an early sign of venous reflux – small vessels which become dilated.  So often the appearance of thread veins is linked to defective valves in larger veins, i.e. ‘hidden’ varicose veins.

So treating thread veins alone using sclerotherapy injections means that they could recur, if there is a deeper vascular problem which is not tackled.

Dominic Dodd, a consultant vascular surgeon based at the Sheffield Vascular Institute, told the Daily Mail:

“Tackling them in isolation when there’s an underlying reflux is usually unrewarding, you can get some improvement, but generally they come back.”

Signs of Underlying Vein Problems

Varicose veins are commonly thought to be lumpy, twisted and quite ugly in appearance, but there are not always visible symptoms.  Other symptoms caused by pressure in the veins could include:

• Legs feeling heavy
• Aching legs
• Changes in the skin e.g. discolouration
• Swelling in the legs
• Itching skin

Varicose & Thread Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private treatment for thread veins and at their London Vein Treatment Centre, they also offer varicose vein treatment with ultrasound scanning for proper diagnosis of any ‘underlying’ vein problems.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.