Remove Spider Veins with Insulin Syringes and Saline Solution?

Question

Can I remove my spider veins myself with insulin syringes and saline solution?

Monika Kiripolsky, MD · Answer

Noooooo! Not only would you be exposing your body to potential infection as well as to dangers inherent in using non medical-grade saline (an endless array of potential impurities and concentration disparities), but, you'd also be performing an ineffective technique.

	Unless the deeper, reticular network of veins supplying the spider veins are treated at the same time, the spider veins will likely recur over time. Furthermore, if one or more of the valves within the deep veins is incompetent, this problem must be fixed before any lasting results from spider vein treatments can be achieved.

	Finally, (hypertonic) saline injections are painful. There are better options for sclerotherapy solutions (i.e. foam preparations of sodium tetradecyl sulfate and/or polidocanol) that are not only significantly less painful, but, also are just as - if not more - effective than hypertonic saline.

	On a side note, despite the popularity in the past of using hypertonic saline as the solution ("sclerosant") in sclerotherapy, it is actually not FDA-approved for this purpose. Both sodium tetradecyl sulfate and polidocanol are FDA-approved for this indication.

John Landi, MD · Answer

You should never treat yourself with sclerotherapy.  The solution used for sclerotherapy is not .9ns but hypertonic saline which is caustic and carries many potential risks.

Chandra Prasad, MD, FACS · Answer

Please NO!!  Vein disease is a real, progressive disease and before any treatments commence you should have a thorough evaluation of your circulation to see if there are underlying deeper veins that are forcing blood to the surface creating these veins.  Only a board certified surgeon trained in phlebology should evaluate you and then choose the best treatments for you so that you can manage this disease optimally.  Saline is not going to treat the veins as well as modern medicines such as polidocanol or Sotradecol.

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

Please DO NOT try to treat your spider veins at home! Practitioners once used hypertonic saline to treat spider veins but now they tend to stay away from because of its high risk for hyperpigmentation and skin necrosis. Current treatment for spider veins is polidoconal. Also, you want to be injected be someone who is experienced because there may be underlying reticular veins that need to be closed off prior to closing off the spider veins. There are many factors that need to be taken into account before just injecting. Please do not perform this procedure at home!

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

You should never treat yourself.You are confusing 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) with hypertonic saline (approximately 21%) for sclerotherapy. If this solution infiltrates in the skin, it will cause skin necrosis.

Remove Spider Veins with Insulin Syringes and Saline Solution?

Answers (8)

Answer: Normal saline is not a sclerosant!

Answer: Normal saline is not a sclerosant!

Answer: Saline sclerotherapy

Answer: Saline sclerotherapy

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Sclerotherapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Remove Spider Veins with Insulin Syringes and Saline Solution?

Answers (8)

Answer: Normal saline is not a sclerosant!

Answer: Normal saline is not a sclerosant!

Answer: Saline sclerotherapy

Answer: Saline sclerotherapy

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Sclerotherapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.