Kettering Health offers you care and treatment options to alleviate and relieve symptoms from vascular conditions like spider veins, reticular veins, and varicose veins.

We’re here to make sure you feel comfortable and confident beyond any issues you may be having. 

Types of Vein Conditions We Treat

Spider veins

These are the smallest visible veins we have in our bodies. Ranging from 0.2 to 1 millimeter, they are found on the skin’s surface. Spider veins get their name from their spider-web appearance and most commonly appear on the face and legs.

Reticular veins

Reticular veins are larger. They can cause significant discomfort, including burning, itching, and stinging.

Varicose veins

These are the largest venous condition. Swollen and twisted, they occur beneath the surface of the skin. They have similar symptoms to reticular veins, and they may also cause fatigue, swelling, night cramping, numbness, a feeling of heaviness, and pain. 

Increased blood pressure causes these vein conditions. And they can occur if valves in the veins become weakened or damaged. People with a family history of vein problems are most likely to experience venous conditions, but other factors include the following:

• Age
• Injury
• Obesity
• Pregnancy, hormones, or birth control pills
• Prolonged periods of inactivity, such as sitting

Treatment

These vein conditions are often harmless, but they can cause uncomfortable symptoms that prompt someone to seek treatment. 

Varicose veins are important to treat: they are branches of the larger veins in the body and can sometimes be signs of other problems, such as interperforated veins.

Your Kettering Health physician may suggest one of the following approaches to treatment:

• Ambulatory phlebectomy: This involves the removal of the vein through tiny punctures or incisions along the path of the enlarged vein. The surgeon uses a surgical hook to remove the varicose vein.
• Compression therapy: Two levels of compression are offered.
  • Low-level compression: This is ideal for anyone who deals with mild swelling or fatigue of the legs during long periods of sitting or standing.
  • Medical grade compression: This is a therapeutic approach to relieve symptoms of venous conditions.
• Electrodesiccation: This involves sealing the veins using an electrical current. 
• Laser surgery and intense pulsed light therapy: Abnormal veins are destroyed by high-intensity laser beams or intense pulsating light.
• Sclerotherapy: This involves injecting a concentrated saline or specially developed solution into the spider or small varicose vein. The solution irritates the inside of the vein, and, over time, the vein collapses and fades. Healthier blood vessels located nearby absorb the blood flow of the collapsed vein.
• Surgical ligation and stripping: This involves the surgeon making an incision in the skin and removing or tying off the blood vessel. This procedure is done for severe cases of varicose veins.