What is Polidocanol?

Polidocanol is a sclerosant solution classified as a chemical detergent.  It can be used in foam solution sclerotherapy but is not FDA approved in the United States at this time.  There are alternative solutions in the United States and these can be administered by a board certified vein specialist.

Polidocanol is a synthetic long chain fatty alcohol that is not FDA approved for sclerotherapy. It is reported to have a very low incidence of allergic reaction. It is painless upon injection and of importance, does not induce skin necrosis upon dermal injection.

The brand name of Polidoconal is Asclera, and it is not FDA approved and available in the US. Go to a very experienced surgeon for the best results and less chance of blushing. see video

Polidocanol is a sclerosing agent, meaning it is used as an injection,either as a liquid or as a foam, to treat a variety of vein conditions, including telangiectasias, spider veins, reticular veins, and varicose veins.  It offers the potential advantage of being more comfortable during injection that other agents (e.g. sodium tetradecyl sulfate, hypertonic saline) as its molecular structure works as an anesthetic (numbing agent) in the area of injection.  According to... more

Polidocanol and Sotradecol are both considered detergents. They are both FDA approved.  The Shadows you mentioned may be either Post Injection Hyperpigmentation which is inflammatory in nature and may take a few months to resolve.  It may also be matting.  Post injection hyperpigmentation  does occur in both but according to most literature to a less degree in asclera.The risk of matting  telangiectasias can  be minimized by making sure not to rupture the... more

And the brand name is Asclera.  Polidocanol along with STS are in the "detergent" class of sclerosing agents and considered the safest.  The "shadowing" you mention may be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) which sometimes may take up to 1-2 months to resolve.  It is also possible that the shadowing is from formation of grouped or matted telangiectasia near the treated vessel.  Asclera can cause PIH but less commonly... more

Polidocanol (Asclera) got U.S. FDA approval March 2010.  The "shadowing"  you refer to could be temporary discoloration which is still a potential side effect with Asclera.  The "shadowing" you refer to may also be matting of veins which is the occurrence of multiple tiny little vessels that show up after having sclerotherapy.  That can be treated with Vbeam laser.  Asclera still has potential side effects which can be minimized by seeing a... more

Polidocanol ( Aethoxyckerol) is a sclerosing solution very popular in Europe. It has attained its popularity for a variety of reasons. Originally an anesthetic, it is virtually painless upon injection, unlike hypertonic saline which induces quite a bit of pain. Another advantage is that it poses minimal risk of extravasation necrosis as compared with other agents. This allows injectors to be less anxious about causing scarring on our patients. There are two big drawbacks to using... more

There are several ways to treat spider veins in the legs. The most common, and still considered the 'gold standard', is with sclerotherapy. Laser can also be a good option if the vessels are so tiny that it is nearly impossible to cannulate them with a needle and sometimes as an option when treating large, bulging vessels by entering inside of the vessel and sealing them from within. There are several sclerosants available and all will adequately do the job. Sometimes it is just... more

Polidocanol is a sclerosant used for the treatment of leg veins. While available and popular in Europe, Polidocanol is still not FDA-approved in the United States. It is expected to be approved in the U.S. sometime in 2010. In general, a sclerosing solution (sclerosant) works by causing irritation and inflammation in the wall of the vein into which it is injected. This results in fibrosis of the vessel, followed by occlusion of the lumen, thereby reducing the appearance of the vein... more

Polidocanol is a safe and effective "detergent" or "foaming" solution that has been available in Europe for many years. After more than a decade of studies in the US, FDA approval of polidocanol in the US is expected in 2010. Then physicians will be able to legally use polidocanol for sclerotherapy of unwanted veins.

Polidocanol is a detergent-based solution used for treating leg veins. It is very popular in Europe. Once it receives FDA approval it will be legal for use in the United States.

Polidocanol is a solution used for the vein injections called sclerotherapy. It is not FDA approved, but so far it is one of the best agents to treat spider veins or telangectasias. During the procedure a solution which is irritating to the vein is injected into the vessel with a very fine needle causing irritation and inflammation in the wall of the vein resulting in scarring of the vessel. The results of the sclerotherapy depend also on how well patient is wearing the compression stockings... more