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Should I Get My Varicose Veins Treated When It's Cold?
Alaska Vein Care Team • November 22, 2023
Here's Why You May Want To Consider Vein Treatment During Colder Months
Although we hate to see summer leave, the autumn months bring a new sense of refreshing. The leaves begin to change, the air feels more crisp, and the holidays start to roll out one by one. The colder months are also a great excuse to wear sweaters, pants, and warm coats that cover up our varicose veins. Luckily, winter is also a great time to have those varicose veins treated.
Check out the 5 reasons why winter may be the best time for you to seek varicose vein removal.
Less Potential For Post-Op Sun Damage
Sun exposure can dry your skin out and prolong the recovery process. As the skin dries and becomes brittle, it restricts the natural elasticity of the tissues. When this happens, circulation is inhibited and slows down the healing process. The sunlight can also cause the veins to retain their dark appearance.
Your specialist will usually recommend that you avoid direct sun exposure for a minimum of two weeks. This can be very hard to do during the summer months.
Less Time Missing Out On Shorts
If you're like many of us, you enjoy being able to wear shorts during the summer months. It's much cooler and your legs can move more freely. However, if you get treatment at the beginning of summer your veins might still need recovery time.
Typically, it takes 1-2 months before varicose and spider veins completely disappear after treatment. If you get treatment during the fall or winter, your legs will be beautiful and healthy by the time summer arrives.
Varicose Veins Flare Up In The Winter Months
Picture this - It's cold outside and you're huddled indoors with a cup of hot cocoa enjoying a movie with your family. Or maybe reading your favorite book next to a warm fire is how you like to spend your winter evenings. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, most of us find ourselves less physically active during the winter.
A major contributor to varicose vein flare-ups, is inactivity. When we're up and moving around, the circulation in our legs is greatly improved. However, when we spend most of our time indoors, it allows the blood in our varicose veins to pool and cause more swelling.
Seeking treatment during the winter months is a great way to make sure that your winter and holiday season is more enjoyable and pain-free. We just recommend that you plan accordingly if there are any flights that you take during the holiday months each year.
Colder Temperatures Make It Easier To Wear Compression Stockings
As part of your recovery and preparation process, you will need to wear compression stockings. This can be extremely uncomfortable if it's hot outside. You may want to wear shorts, but have to choose pants instead to cover your stockings.
During the winter, it's much more comfortable to wear compression stockings since we're already wearing pants. It also provides an additional layer of protection against the cold Alaska wind that we battle each year.
If you're thinking about putting off varicose vein treatment until warmer months, you may want to reconsider.
Winter Months Usually Involve Less Activities Than Summer
We already talked about how during the winter we are more likely to stay cozy indoors and relax. We also learned that sun exposure inhibits the healing process. Which brings us to our last reason to consider treatment when it's cold outside - missing out on important activities.
During the summer, we find ourselves wanting to participate in family vacations, baseball with the kids, fishing, kayaking, and marathons. When you're recovering from vein treatment, the last thing you want is to feel like you're missing out on special activities and events. You might also be tempted to do something that could damage the healing process.
We highly recommend that you get your varicose and spider veins treated with more than enough time to enjoy your summer.
If you have questions about varicose vein treatment or would like to set up a free consultation, please don't hesitate to call us, or send us a message!
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