Tampa Vein Specialist on the Causes and Treatment of Spider Veins

TAMPA, FL--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Dr. Jeffrey Hunt, a board-certified vein specialist in Tampa, focuses primarily on the non-surgical treatment of venous disorders, such as spider veins. With approximately 80 million adults in the U.S. suffering from this condition each year, spider veins prove to be a common aesthetic complaint. At the Vein and Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay, Dr. Hunt presents patients with a variety of treatments proven effective in treating their cosmetic concerns as well as other accompanying symptoms.

According to Dr. Hunt, spider veins are commonly found on the face and legs, exhibiting a blue or reddish color below the skin surface. They can form a spider web pattern or separate from other veins. The cause varies from person to person, but generally, they result from one or more of the following:

• Genetics
• Weight gain
• Hormone changes
• Prolonged sitting or standing
• Certain medications, such as birth control
• Pregnancy

While there are many potential causes, spider veins often become worse during pregnancy. He explains this happens as a result of increased abdominal girth, pelvic pressure and hormonal changes, which dilate and increase pressure in the superficial venous system, causing vein enlargement. Although they can improve post-pregnancy, Dr. Hunt finds they rarely disappear completely.

Treatment is usually sought for cosmetic reasons in Dr. Hunt's patients, but there are some who seek relief from pain. Regardless of the reason, Dr. Hunt typically treats the veins with sclerotherapy, while occasionally using lasers or Veinwave™ for more resilient red vessels. With sclerotherapy, a soap solution is injected into the damaged vessels, causing them to collapse. The procedure takes around a half hour per session and usually needs to be performed two to three times.

As a non-invasive treatment, Dr. Hunt explains how sclerotherapy requires no recovery time between procedures. However, some patients may experience some soreness or bruising from the injections. Overall, Dr. Hunt's patients have found that sclerotherapy has significantly lightened if not completely erased their spider veins. For optimal vein treatment, Dr. Hunt recommends scheduling a consultation with a properly trained vein specialist.

About Jeffrey A. Hunt, DO, RVS

Dr. Jeffrey Hunt received his medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and did three years of post-graduate training at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Dr. Hunt then founded and managed a Family and Sclerotherapy practice in Akron, Ohio. Upon leaving the practice, he and his family relocated to Tampa, Florida to offer state-of-the-art vein treatments at The Vein & Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay. Dr. Hunt is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He is also an ultrasound registered vascular specialist and a diplomat of the American Board of Phlebology. He was among the first in the U.S. to perform Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy and has now performed over 80,000 of those treatments for varicose veins.

Dr. Hunt is available for interview upon request.