Varicose Veins Specialist

What causes varicose veins?

In some cases, age causes your veins to lose elasticity, stretch, and weaken. Your veins’ valves fail to pump all the blood back toward the heart, allowing it to pool in the legs and ankles. After some time, this blood stretches your veins, causing them to enlarge and become varicose.

Some women experience varicose veins during pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, you have more blood in your body, but the blood flow between your pelvis and legs slows and can sometimes lead to varicose veins. Unlike varicose veins resulting from age, the enlarged veins that occur during pregnancy often improve on their own within a year of delivery.

Although anyone can develop varicose veins, specific risk factors may increase their likeness, including:

• A family history of varicose veins
• Being female
• Obesity
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time

Can you prevent varicose veins?

Although you can’t completely prevent varicose veins, you can work to reduce your risk of developing varicose veins. Or if you already have them, you can reduce your risk of developing more.

Improving your muscle tone and circulation may prevent varicose veins, and the team at Integrative Laser Center of Washington recommends that you:

• Exercise regularly
• Manage your weight
• Eat a heart-healthy diet including high-fiber and low-salt foods
• Elevate your legs
• Move around regularly, especially when standing or sitting for long periods of time
• Wear compression stockings
• Avoid high heels and tight hosiery

How are varicose veins treated?

At Integrative Laser Center of Washington, Dr. McIntosh and his team determine what type of varicose vein treatment best suits your needs.

In some cases, they may recommend sclerotherapy. During this procedure, a skin specialist injects a solution into your varicose vein.

Typically either a salt or an irritant serum, this solution causes the blood vessel to swell and stick together. The blood inside clots, your body absorbs it, and the vein forms into scar tissue and fades. The blood reroutes through a different source.

In mild cases, Dr. McIntosh suggests laser treatment. A certified laser specialist focuses laser energy into your varicose vein, causing it to collapse and fade. Like with sclerotherapy, the blood naturally reroutes.

If varicose veins make you hide your legs and ankles, find a permanent fix at Integrative Laser Center of Washington. Call today to schedule your appointment or book online.