Sclerotherapy vs Laser Treatment for Spider Veins by Vein Expert Dr. Mackay in Tampa, FL admin, July 27, 2024 Sclerotherapy provides the most consistent and best results for spider veins, as compared with laser therapy. Benefits of Laser Treatment Laser therapy is best used to treat spider veins on the face over sclerotherapy. Some of the other common reasons to choose laser therapy is fear of needles, if you are allergic to specific chemicals, and smaller veins that may not be able to be treated with chemical therapies. Although the procedure is short and is performed in the office, it tends to be painful, mainly from the heat of the laser. In patients with darker skin, there is a higher chance for staining of the skin in areas where the laser is used to treat spider veins. Benefits of Sclerotherapy Treatment Sclerotherapy uses a specialized chemical that is injected into the vein. This is also an office based procedure that take less than 60 minutes. The sclerotherapy chemical that is used in the vein is either a liquid or a foam and is called a sclerosant. The sclerosant irritates the vein, leading to scarring and eventually the body absorbing the vein. This is best used for patients that have a lower pain tolerance and those with darker skin. There are quite a few advantages, such as being less painful, treating spider veins that are deeper underneath the skin, and the ability to treat a larger area of spider veins. Learn more at Health News