Telangiectasias better known as spider veins can be caused by heredity, pregnancy, weight gain, or jobs that involve hours of sitting or standing.

Whatever the cause, unsightly purple and red spider veins just don’t work with barelegged summer fashions.

They can be a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point, or in a branch-like formation, or as separate lines. (Don’t confuse spider veins with varicose veins, which may bulge and cause pain.)

Spider veins are very common, especially in women, and easy to correct through sclerotherapy, a nonsurgical, nearly painless procedure that takes place during a 45-minute office visit.

Sclerotherapy is the most effective cure for spider veins, trumping the oft-advertised laser treatments and other remedies. In fact, the medical journal Dermatologic Surgery published a study that showed sclerotherapy generated better results in fewer sessions than laser treatments.

Your HMF dermatologist uses a microfine needle to inject a special solution into each spider vein. The veins recede and the color starts to fade. There is no downtime; you can return to work and regular activities right away.

“For best results, we encourage patients to wear support hose for a few days following their treatment. So allow three or four days before you start showing off your legs,” says dermatologist Stefani Takahashi, M.D.  She added that severe spider veins might require a second injection.

While sclerotherapy has been available in the U.S. for just a decade or so, European women have had access to the procedure for more than 50 years. To schedule a sclerotherapy consultation, call 626/397-8323.