Sclerotherapy involves a doctor injecting a solution into blood vessels or lymph vessels that causes them to shrink. It can help with varicose veins or spider veins.
It is a nonsurgical procedure. Doctors may also use it to treat blood and lymph vessel disorders that cause vessels to form incorrectly.
The solution is called a sclerosant, and it irritates the targeted vessel, causing it to swell. This swelling cuts off the flow of blood or lymphatic fluid, and the vessel shrinks.
Which conditions does sclerotherapy treat?
Sclerotherapy is a first-line treatment for varicose veins, which can be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency.
Varicose veins refer to veins, usually in the legs, that swell and bulge due to poorly functioning vein valves. As a result, blood pools in the veins. This issue may be painful and itchy and cause skin discoloration.
It shrinks varicose veins until they disappear, and blood reroutes to healthier veins.
Doctors may also use sclerotherapy to treat other health issues, including:
- Malformed lymph vessels: These are abnormal vessels in the lymphatic system. Sclerotherapy creates scarring in the malformed vessels, causing them to collapse.
- Hemorrhoids: Doctors may use it to shrink grade 1 or 2 hemorrhoids. These form when blood vessels surrounding the rectum swell and become irritated, causing pain and making bowel movements uncomfortable.
- Hydroceles: A hydrocele is a collection of fluid around a testicle. Doctors may use this to treat hydroceles, particularly when surgery is unsuitable.
When to consider sclerotherapy
People may consider sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins or spider veins. Some may have the procedure for cosmetic reasons. A doctor can help a person decide if sclerotherapy is necessary or suitable.
People may want to consider other approaches first. For example, people can usually treat hemorrhoids with strategies such as lifestyle changes, eating more fiber, and not straining when having a bowel movement.
People with varicose veins or spider veins might consider sclerotherapy if the veins are too twisted for other treatments to work or if they have uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
- itching
- aching
- burning
- swelling
- night cramps
- the legs feeling very heavy or tired
Read more: What Is Sclerotherapy? Uses, What To Expect, And All Else You Need To Know
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