The autumn and winter months are generally easier on your varicose veins than the heat of the summer. As the weather cools, veins are less likely to dilate, and you may even notice a reduction in swelling. This can provide a bit of relief, however, this won’t last forever, and as soon as the weather begins to warm up, you might notice that your veins start feeling worse in the heat.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, Dr. Mathew Cheung and Dr. Peter Lin discuss why winter season is the best time to treat your varicose veins or spider veins. In this article, you will learn some common treatments for your varicose veins and why the winter  season is ideal time to treat your vein problems.

Before we discuss why winter is the best season to treat your varicose veins, it is important to know what treatments are available for getting rid of your varicose veins or spider veins.

1. Elevation of the legs. You may be instructed to elevate your feet above the level of your heart three or four times a day for about 15 minutes at a time. If you need to sit or stand for a long period of time, flexing (bending) your legs occasionally can help keep blood circulating. If you have mild to moderate varicose veins, elevating your legs can help reduce leg swelling and relieve other symptoms.

2. Compression stockings. These elastic stockings squeeze or compress the veins and prevent blood from flowing backward. In addition, compression stockings may help with healing of skin sores and prevention of additional sores. Compression stockings are effective in treating varicose veins if worn daily and may prevent the need for more invasive treatment.

3. Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for both spider and varicose veins. This procedure involves a saline or chemical solution that is injected into the varicose veins that causes them to harden so that they no longer fill with blood. Blood that would normally return to the heart through these veins returns to the heart by way of other veins. The veins that received the injection will eventually shrivel and disappear. The scar tissue is absorbed by the body.

4. Laser treatment. Laser treatment is a type of treatment for varicose veins. Until recently, laser treatment was mainly used for treatment of spider veins on the face. However, newer laser technology can now effectively treat varicose veins as well. There are several types of lasers that may be used to treat varicose veins. The physician inserts a tiny fiber into a varicose vein through a catheter. The fiber sends out laser energy that destroys the diseased portion of your varicose vein. The vein closes and your body eventually absorbs it.

5. Closure ablation. Ablation involves the insertion of a thin, flexible tube called a catheter inserted into a varicose vein. The tip of the catheter heats the walls of the varicose vein using radiofrequency energy (also known as closure procedure) and destroys the vein tissue. Once destroyed, the vein is no longer able to carry blood and is absorbed by your body.

As the amount of daylight decreases and the nights draw in, it can be tempting to stay indoors on the sofa. However, being sedentary or spending long periods of time not moving about can decrease circulation and make veins feel more uncomfortable.

As the temperature drops outside, we begin to rely on our indoor central heating, hot baths and long, luxurious showers to keep warm. All of these can increase your body temperature and make troublesome veins swell.

Finally, as well as turning to warming stews and comfort food, in the run up to Christmas we often attend more social gatherings. Drinking more alcohol and eating foods that are high in fat and sugar can lead to weight gain, which can affect your veins.

Compression socks can help regulate your blood circulation after a vein treatment and speed up healing and recovery. However, compression socks are tall and thick and can be uncomfortable and hot during the summer. If you receive veins treatment during the winter, you can wear compression socks under your pants without having to worry about the discomfort they may cause during the summer.

Take advantage of the fact that you’re more likely to wear clothes that cover your legs during the winter months, so the healing process can take place beneath long trousers or skirts – making it the ideal time to arrange treatment for your veins.

Bruising, redness, swelling and skin discoloration are common side effects of many vein treatments. These side effects usually resolve within a few days or weeks but can be noticeable and bothersome if you plan on wearing shorts and bathing suits during that time. Winter veins treatment allows you to hide these side effects under pants while your body heals.

ring the cooler winter season, you can spend time recovering from your vein treatment comfortably indoors where it’s warm and avoid the risk of skin discoloration that could occur when you have the treatment during the summer.

Patients who have recently undergone vein treatment should avoid exposure to the sun due to the potential for skin discoloration. Avoiding the sun is a lot simpler in the winter! Having your vein treatment in the winter means that you won’t need to take extra precautions to avoid the sun since you are already bundling up to stay warm

It can take a while to see the results from varicose vein treatment – especially if you’re having larger veins treated. By having treatment in winter, your legs will be fully recovered in time for the spring and summer months. For interventional treatment such as radiofrequency ablation or laser ablation, these treatments typically take between 20 and 30 minutes, so you’ll be able to:

• Go home within an hour
• Return to work whenever you choose
• Drive a vehicle the next day
• Get back to gym in two days

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, we strive to provide the best service, care, and results possible. If you are interested in varicose vein treatment, give us a call at 626-275-9566 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit us at www.vcsla.com for more information.