Reticulated veins
What are reticulated veins
Reticulated veins or "blue veins" represent dilatations of the superficial venous system with subdermal location having a diameter> 3 mm and a specific colour of cyanotic blue.
What are the causes of the disease
As with varicose veins, reticulated veins are genetically inherited and occur more frequently in the female population. Favoring factors for venous dilatations are:
- Pregnancy (increased intra-abdominal pressure favors the appearance of pressure conditions favourable to venous dilatations);
- Obesity;
- Prolonged orthostatism specific to certain professions (hairdressers, commercial agents, dentists, surgeons);
- Uncomfortable shoes that are too tight or with high heels;
- Lack of daily exercise or sedentary lifestyle;
- Local injuries (especially in performance athletes - cyclists, marathon runners, tennis players);
- Hot baths, sauna or hair removal with hot wax;
- Smoking and excessive alcohol/coffee consumption;
- Use of hormonal treatments.
Clinical manifestations
The appearance of reticulated veins is not accompanied by specific symptoms, patients get to a specialist only for cosmetic treatment.
Treatment of reticulated veins
In the treatment of the condition manifested at the level of the lower limb, it is recommended to use an elastic restraint throughout the daily activity (elastic stockings) in order to reduce the venous reflux and to prevent the appearance of varicose veins or varicose veins. Prophylactic treatment is a change of lifestyle with the reduction as much as possible of the risk factors for varicose veins (avoidance of prolonged orthostatism, quitting smoking, maintaining an adequate body weight).
The methods of minimally invasive treatment of superficial vein dilatations are represented by:
- Transdermal laser surface sclerotherapy;
- Sclerotherapy with sclerosing chemicals that obliterate the affected vascular bed after their insertion into a vein with the help of a catheter.