When unsightly and oft-uncomfortable leg veins appear at the surface of your skin, your dermatologist might come to mind first. Although dermatologists do specialize in the care of your skin, problems affecting the veins are better handled by a vein specialist, or phlebologist. Wondering what the difference is? Here’s a look at whether you should see a phlebologist or dermatologist for your leg vein treatment.
What is a Phlebologist?
A phlebologist is a vein doctor who specializes in treating venous disorders, like:
- Spider veins
- Varicose veins
- Superficial vein thrombosis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Venous ulcers
Although these conditions occur most often in the legs, they can also affect veins in the arms, face, and other parts of the body. When that happens, you just have to schedule a consult with a vein specialist to get a diagnosis and find the right level of treatment.
What is a Dermatologist?
A dermatologist, on the other hand, specializes in treating conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails, like:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Scleroderma
- Psoriasis
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Graves’ disease
- Oral lichen planus
Dermatologists can also diagnose and treat melanoma, cutaneous t-cell lymphoma, and other types of cancer that attack the skin. All in all, these skin doctors can diagnose more than 3,000 conditions, although they may need to partner with phlebologists and other specialists to get their patients the right level of care.
Why You Should See a Phlebologist or Vascular Surgeon for Vein Treatment
Although a dermatologist can definitely spot spider veins, varicose veins, and other venous conditions during an exam, they may not offer the latest diagnostic tools and treatments. To get the absolute best care for leg vein disorders, you need to visit a phlebologist or vascular surgeon.
They have the tools, training, and overall expertise needed to accurately diagnose venous disorders of all kinds. Beyond that, they have all the necessary equipment for all the latest high-tech treatments used to resolve varicose veins and other conditions with minimal pain and downtime.
Phlebologists can resolve your symptomatic varicose veins with ClosureFast, for example, instead of vein stripping. Through this minimally-invasive treatment, they can use RF energy to shrink the bulging, twisted vein within 30 minutes. Just 24 hours later, you’ll be able to return to your normal activities while enjoying relief from pain, swelling, and other varicose vein symptoms.
Treatments for Leg Veins
When you visit a phlebologist or vascular surgeon, they can perform just the right leg vein treatment for your needs, such as:
- Sclerotherapy
- Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
- Microphlebectomy
- ClosureFast
- Clarivein®
- VenaSeal™
- Polidocanol Injectable Foam
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)
- Veinwave™
With the ideal leg vein treatment, you can enjoy smooth, healthy skin once again. The treatments can also help get rid of varicose vein symptoms, including pain and swelling, plus reduce your risk of developing blood clots.
Seek Vein Treatment at Vein & Vascular
If you’d like to learn more about all the different vein treatment options, call 856-309-8346 to meet our vein physicians in Vineland, Voorhees, Sewell and Lumberton New Jersey. At your visit, we’ll perform an examination and other tests to make an accurate diagnosis. Then, we can help you find the right treatment option for your needs and provide all your care. We’re always here to help you enjoy excellent vein health, so please feel free to call anytime.