insideKENT Magazine Issue 61 - April 2017 | Page 128

HEALTH + WELLNESS

VARICOSE VEINS – ARE THEY MORE THAN JUST SKIN DEEP ?

VARICOSE VEINS MAY LOOK UNSIGHTLY AND MAKE US FEEL SELF-CONSCIOUS BUT DO THEY ALWAYS NEED TO BE TREATED ? DR MO FARIS IS A VASCULAR INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGIST , A DOCTOR WHO SPECIALISES IN TREATMENTS FOR PROBLEM VEINS . HE EXPLAINS WHY VARICOSE VEINS ARE NOT ALWAYS JUST A COSMETIC PROBLEM .
What are varicose veins ?
Varicose veins are bulging , dark coloured veins that usually appear on the legs . They can look like twisted blue or purple ropes just below the skin ’ s surface and many people feel self-conscious about having their legs on show .
What can I do about them ?
Unfortunately , despite information to the contrary on the internet , there is no magic potion to fix varicose veins . Online searches may advise buying specially formulated creams or suggest home remedies such as apple cider vinegar , coconut oil , witch hazel and tomatoes . While these probably won ’ t do you any harm , they are unlikely to make much of a difference to your varicose veins .
Until relatively recently the most effective treatment involved a fairly major procedure carried out under general anaesthetic in hospital to ‘ strip out ’ the problem veins . It could take several weeks to recover and patients often reported that the varicose veins came back .
Is surgery the only thing that works ?
The good news is that in recent years , treatments for varicose veins have become much less invasive and are much more effective . At Cooden Veins we use a technique called ELVA which means that you can walk in , have your treatment and walk out shortly afterwards – you could theoretically have it done in your lunch hour ! The procedure uses a laser to destroy the affected veins from the inside so that the surrounding tissues are not damaged . As the veins are completely destroyed , there is no chance of them reappearing .
Do I have to have my varicose veins treated ?
Not all varicose veins need treatment although many people choose to have them removed for cosmetic reasons . Even if you are not concerned by their appearance it would be wise to have them checked out as varicose veins can be indicative of underlying venous disease . This can lead to symptoms such as :
• Aching , heavy and uncomfortable legs
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Burning or throbbing in your legs
• Muscle cramp in your legs , particularly at night
• Dry , itchy and thin skin over the affected vein
If not treated correctly , troublesome varicose veins can get worse and can lead to more concerning problems such as blood clots , skin damage and leg ulceration . So although your varicose veins are probably only skin deep , do have this corroborated by a doctor , either by visiting your GP or going directly to a specialist vein clinic .
For further information visit www . coodenmedicalgroup . com or call 01227 903038 .
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