00:00I have spider veins along with a thousand other things that people would call flaws.
00:04My name is Lexi.
00:05I'm a senior beauty editor at Refinery29.
00:08A lot of people want to know what they can do about their spider veins, and I don't think
00:11I know anyone without them.
00:13So when I had the opportunity to be a guinea pig, I jumped at it.
00:17Spider veins are tiny blood vessels visible at the surface of the skin, often found in
00:23clusters that resemble a spider web.
00:25They are caused by many factors, including hormones, sun exposure, and genetics.
00:32Sclero...
00:32Aww.
00:34It's hard to pronounce.
00:36Sclerotherapy.
00:37Okay.
00:38Scler-o-pea.
00:41Sclerotherapy is one of the most cost-effective ways to get rid of spider or varicose veins.
00:46Sclerotherapy treats many types of veins by injecting them with the material that causes
00:51the vein to become damaged and then absorbed back into the body.
00:54So you're basically turning off the vein.
00:57Sclerotherapy has been used in modern medicine for over a hundred years, but some say it
01:02was practiced in ancient times using the sharp point of a feather to inject an irritant,
01:06like salt water or tree sap, into the vein.
01:10These days the process is much more refined.
01:13What is it we want to do?
01:15This is Dr. Lancer.
01:16Dr. Lancer is one of the top dermatologists to see in Los Angeles.
01:20It's been reported that everyone from Kim Kardashian to Oprah to Beyonce sees him.
01:25I don't have a lot, but I do have some that I think could be enough to get a reaction.
01:30Being a beauty editor, you know that any time a needle crosses your skin there are risks.
01:35There are risks of infection, there are risks of allergic action.
01:38I definitely was a little bit worried even though this is a pretty common procedure.
01:45Dr. Lancer mixes his solution of choice, a sclera, a drug made for treating veins, with salt water.
01:54The needle is bent so the angle is optimal for injection.
02:01The treatment requires a steady hand.
02:05This vein is actually smaller in diameter than the needle.
02:12The results are instant.
02:42You see it?
02:45Done.
02:47The entire procedure was really quick and painless.
02:51It by no means got rid of all of the veins, which wasn't exactly to be expected.
02:55It does take a couple different treatments.
02:58That's the injection site right there, that little mark.
03:01So it's like basically everything through here.
03:05For anyone who's looking for a fast, less expensive alternative to getting rid of spider veins,
03:10I definitely recommend Scalotherapy.
03:13Nope, didn't say that right.
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