Unsightly blue and red leg veins are treatable with either sclerotherapy, or laser. Accent Dermatology and Laser Institute offers both approaches for treatment of this common condition.

Sclerotherapy is the appoach most often used for treatment of leg veins. It is the most comfortable, most effective, and least expensive way to treat most leg veins.

Leg veins are often caused from trauma, genetics (did your father or mother have large, visible veins?), pregnancy, or standing on your feet for hours on end. Left untreated, unsightly leg veins can contribute to poor skin strength in later years, leading to dermatitis and ulceration. They can also cause discomfort of the legs.

People who have enlarged, or just unsightly leg veins benefit from wearing support hose. Drs. Scholz and Sawada require wearing of support stockings after any leg vein treatment, to help provide best treatment results.

The best time of year to have leg veins treated is in the Fall, Winter or Spring. It often takes 3-6 months for the effects of the vein treatment to fade from the skin, so if treatments are done in the 'off season' for swimsuits, and shorts, the legs are able to heal under cover of pants and skirts.

Immediately after treatment, treated veins often appear darker than they were prior to treatment. This extra pigmentation can take 6-9 months to be absorbed by the body. The skin needs to be protected from the sun during the healing process for best results. (Sun protection of the skin is important after any skin procedure.)

Veins are treated permanently with sclerotherapy, however this does not mean the body will not grow new veins that will need to be treated in the future. If a person is prone to develop unsightly leg veins, they will likely need periodic sclerotherapy, and will benefit from wearing lighter-weight support hose daily.

Please call, and make an appointment for a cosmetic consultation with Drs. Scholz or Sawada to help you determine how many treatments would likely be necessary to let your legs be as 'vein free' as possible.