Can Laser Treatments Get Rid of My Spider Veins on My Ankles and Feet?

Summer’s here, meaning feet are on display, whether barefoot or sporting sandals. It also means spider veins are more visible, making many more self-conscious.

At Forward Foot & Ankle, our team helps spider veins disappear with state-of-the-art laser treatments ideal for visible veins on your feet and ankles. In this post, learn what causes spider veins in your feet and ankles and how laser therapy can restore clearer, younger-looking skin.

Spider veins and your feet

Spider veins have a creepy name, but it’s an apt description, considering their weblike appearance. These thin, threadlike, purplish veins happen when tiny, “one-way” valves inside your veins malfunction, allowing blood to flow backward and collect. Over time, tiny swollen veins become more visible, creating the purplish weblike appearance spider veins are known for.

Visible changes are just one potential symptom of spider veins, though. Some veins can cause itching and discomfort, especially when you have more than one. Scratching the skin over your veins can lead to skin damage, raising your risk of dangerous infections called ulcers.

While spider veins can — and do — appear anywhere on the body, the feet and ankles are especially prone to vein problems. That’s because your feet and lower legs are located at a point farthest from your heart, which means the veins need to work extra hard to return blood to your heart. 

Your feet and ankles also bear the brunt of your body weight. After years of supporting you, pressure on your foot and ankle veins builds up, increasing the risk of vein valve damage, vessel inflammation, and visible spider veins. Hormonal changes, lifestyle habits (like lots of standing), and even genetics can also play roles.

Laser treatments to the rescue

The skin on your feet and ankles tends to be relatively thin and fragile, especially as you get older. Laser therapy uses focused beams of energy to target tiny veins without damaging the rest of your skin.

Laser energy is administered via a special handheld applicator. When the energy reaches the targeted vein, it heats the vein walls, causing it to collapse and dissolve over the following few weeks. The treatment is straightforward and pain-free, with most patients describing the sensation as a gentle “snapping” against their skin.

Laser spider vein treatments are completely non-invasive, and no needles are involved. Each treatment session takes under an hour, and multiple veins can be treated in one session. 

There’s no downtime afterward, but you should avoid strenuous activity and sun exposure for a few days while the area heals. Wearing compression socks during this time helps speed healing.

Schedule spider vein treatment today

Since veins can take a few weeks to disappear, there’s no time like the present to schedule your treatment. To learn more or to have your spider veins evaluated by our team, request an appointment online or over the phone at Forward Foot & Ankle in Midtown Manhattan and Staten Island, New York, today.