Varicose veins and spider veins are natural, but that doesn’t mean we like them!  When a patient has severe enough presentation of varicose veins, it’s referred to as “Road Map Legs” because all the veins look like winding roads and rivers on a map, which is probably not the look you were going for.  One non-invasive method to treat varicose veins is called sclerotherapy.  This treatment involves injecting a hypertonic saline solution into the enlarged vessels.  The altered pH of the solution causes the vessels to become irritated, collapse, and reabsorb into the body.  This technique works well for small to medium varicose and spider veins, while larger veins require ligation or surgical removal.  This procedure causes minimal discomfort, and patients usually report a stinging or cramping sensation during treatment because of the saline, but this can be neutralized after each injection.  Houston board certified dermatologist Stephen Mahoney, M.D., has treated numerous patients with varicose and spider veins using sclerotherapy.  If you want to know more about treatment options, contact West Houston Dermatology Today.