Conditions

Reticular Veins

Also known as feeder veins, reticular veins are dilated veins that appear blue or green under the skin, affecting as much as 80% of all adults. These veins often develop as a result of genetic factors, but may also be caused by hormonal imbalances or weak veins. Although they do not often cause any painful symptoms or medical complications, many patients are bothered by the appearance of reticular veins and seek treatment to achieve clear, smooth skin.

Sclerotherapy is most often performed to treat reticular veins, while some cases can be treated with a miniphlebectomy, a less invasive alternative to sclerotherapy. Your doctor will decide which treatment option is best for you after a thorough evaluation of your condition.

Spider Veins

Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are small, thin, blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They appear most commonly on the face and legs and may look like a series of lines, tree branches, or a spider- or web-like shape with a dark center. It is estimated that they affect nearly half of adult women in the Unites States.

Spider veins are caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, pregnancy (and other conditions that involve changes in hormone levels), weight gain, long periods of standing, and certain medications. They often appear red or blue, and because they form on the face, thighs, calves and ankles, many patients are bothered by the way they look. Others seek medical treatment for uncomfortable symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and cramping.

The specialized treatments for spider veins (blood vessel malformations) are thermocoagulation, Veinwave™, Sclerotherapy, long-pulse Yag lasers or pulsed light treatments. They all work on the same basic principle: a light beam is pulsed onto the veins. Each of these treatment options seal the veins off, causing them to dissolve.

Dr Phillips offers all of these advanced treatment options and will offer the most effective treatment for your condition.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are swollen, dark blue or purple blood vessels that you can see and feel beneath the skin. They often look like twisted cords, and usually appear on the calves, inside of the legs, and ankles.

Varicose veins form when the valves within a vein weaken and allow some blood to flow backward. The vein weakens under the additional strain and balloons outward, raising the skin surface.

Many people with venous disease seek cosmetic treatment to reduce the appearance of varicose or spider veins on the legs. Treatment often relieves minor discomfort associated with the condition such as swelling, fatigue, itching and cramps. Sometimes, however, more significant problems can develop if veins are left untreated. Clogging of the blood in the veins can result in the formation of a clot that blocks blood flow or breaks free and travels to the heart or lungs, causing severe damage and even death.

Venous Stasis Dermatitis

Venous stasis dermatitis involves an inflammation of the skin in the lower legs as a result of chronic venous insufficiency. When pooled venous blood collects in the legs, it can result in skin inflammation and other complications as well. Treatment for this condition focuses on treating the underlying condition and is usually successful.

These lesions first appear on the skin as red or brown discolorations, which can then begin to scale and crust, as well as developing symptoms such as itching and ulceration.

Many cases of venous stasis dermatitis can be treated through conservative methods such as elevating the leg and wearing compression garments to promote healing. For those that do not respond to these treatment approaches, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed. Most cases of venous stasis dermatitis can be effectively treated using noninvasive methods.

Venous Ulcers

A venous skin ulcer is a small wound that appears on the skin when the leg veins do not carry blood back to the heart, a condition known as venous insufficiency. Venous skin ulcers develop on the lower leg as a complication of long-term untreated venous insufficiency, and can cause pain, odor, pus, tenderness and redness.

Venous skin ulcers develop on the skin after the blood vessels in the leg and the surrounding tissue break down, leaving a visible ulcer on the skin. These ulcers are often found above the ankle and below the calf. The skin in the affected area may appear dark red or purple and may feel thickened, dry and itchy. Ulcers can also cause pain, swelling and aching.

It is important to treat venous skin ulcers as soon as they appear to help facilitate the healing process and prevent infection. Most venous skin ulcers can be treated by improving circulation in the affected area. This can be done by elevating your legs above the level of your heart and by wearing compression stockings to prevent blood from building up in the legs. Skin grafting or vein surgery may be needed to treat ulcers that do not heal within six months or that become infected. Your doctor will decide which treatment option is best for you.