Do you have painful, unsightly veins preventing you from enjoying your summer wardrobe? If so, you are not alone. The Journal of Vascular Surgery reports that "23 % of adults have varicose veins, and 6% have more advanced chronic venous disease." 

However, there is no need to suffer. Vein treatment is a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure that can eliminate your pain and improve the appearance of your legs. Here's everything you need to know about this life-changing treatment.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. If you have a family history of varicose veins, you're more likely to develop them yourself. Other risk factors include pregnancy, obesity, and standing or sitting for long periods of time.

If you have any of these risk factors, you may be wondering if there's anything you can do to prevent varicose veins from developing. Unfortunately, once you have the condition, it is difficult to reverse it completely. However, you can make some lifestyle changes to lessen your symptoms and slow the progression of the condition. These include:

• Exercising regularly
• Elevating your legs when resting
• Wearing loose-fitting clothes
• Avoiding long periods of standing or sitting
• Avoiding high heels
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Wearing compression socks or stockings

What Vein Treatments Are Available For Varicose and Spider Veins?

If you already have varicose veins, there are treatments available that can help improve your symptoms and the appearance of your legs, including:

• Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that involves injecting a solution into the veins. The solution damages the walls of the veins and makes them collapse. The veins are then reabsorbed into the body. 
• Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT). EVLT is a minimally invasive procedure that uses laser energy to heat up and damage the walls of the vein. This causes the vein to collapse and eventually fade away. 
• Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RF ablation). RF ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to heat up and damage the walls of the vein so that it can collapse and eventually fade away. Like EVLT, the vein eventually fades away.

While the varicose vein fades away, a new vein forms to take its place. This new vein is typically much healthier and doesn't cause the same problems as the varicose vein.

Do not let varicose veins keep you from enjoying summer—or any season. Vein treatment is a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure that can eliminate pain, swelling, and unsightly veins. Schedule a consultation today to see how you can achieve beautiful, healthy, and pain-free legs. 

For more information, contact a local vein specialist.