I’m tired of having to hide my veiny feet and legs. Is there anything I can do to get rid of my spider veins?

SCLEROTHERAPY
with registered nurse Jayne Schulze
As well as being embarrassing and unattractive, spider veins – those squiggly black or purple veins — can cause discomfort or pain. But there is a simple, cost effective way to treat spider veins. It’s called sclerotherapy.
The procedure involves injecting saline into the vein using a fine needle. This irritates the lining of the vein causing it to become ‘sticky’. Compression is then applied to push the walls of the veins together to seal it off.
It is a procedure that more women are taking advantage of – we have so many women from 35 to 85 years old referred to us by their GP for spider vein treatment. Many of them haven’t worn shorts or swimwear for years. Others come to have the veins on their feet treated so they can wear sandals or open shoes, they’re tired of having to hide veiny, discoloured feet. Many patients are from professions that involve a lot of standing. They complain of tired, aching legs. The injections are not pain-free but usually cause only minor discomfort. Compression stockings are worn for three to seven days afterwards to ensure the veins close off. Depending on how many spider veins there are, it usually takes between one and three sessions to get the best result. Cost-wise, sclerotherapy is comparable to other cosmetic treatments such as botox.

SUNSHINE VASCULAR
www.sunshinevascular.com.au

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What causes sun damage and how can I prevent it?

SUN DAMAGE
with Sarah Roseworne
Sun damage occurs when your skin is overexposed to the sun, and is very common in Australia. Sun damage may appear as a cosmetic blemish or it could present as a much more serious condition.

What causes sun damage?
Sun exposure causes most of the skin’s changes that we think of as a normal part of ageing. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag and loses its ability to go back into place after stretching.

Sun exposure causes most of the skin’s changes that we think of as a normal part of ageing.”

How do I prevent sun damage?
You can help prevent sun damage by wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen 30+ or higher. Broad spectrum will protect you from the UVA ray which can cause ageing and the UVB rays that can cause burning.
Also try and avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, between 10am and 2pm. If you need to be outside during this time make sure you are protecting your skin with clothing, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Heidi’s Body and Skin Care
Phone: 5474 4522