Thread vein removal in male cyclists linked to the ‘Wiggins effect’

Sir Bradley Wiggins’ huge cycling successes during 2012 may have inadvertently led to an increasing number of men splashing out money for cosmetic treatment to remove ‘thread veins’ from their legs.

The British cyclist captured the Tour de France title last year before shortly going on to win gold during the time trial event at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, and capped a fantastic year by being voted as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. If all that wasn’t impressive enough, he was awarded a knighthood as part of the 2013 New Year Honours.

All of Sir Bradley Wiggins’ successes led to thousands of men across the UK picking up a bike for the first time in many years and getting out onto the open road – the ‘Wiggins effect’ as it has been referred to.

As with many male cyclists though, there is a common penchant for leg hair removal as hair-free legs are much easier to massage. In addition, the smoother legs apparently provide less resistance, with some men arguing that with no hair on the legs they become more ‘aerodynamic’ and increasing potential speed – a somewhat debatable theory perhaps.

However, with so many men now removing their leg hair, previously hidden and unpleasant looking thread veins are now exposed and sudden become more visible.

Thread veins, also known as ‘telangiectasia varicose veins’, are extremely common and usually due to hereditary factors, hormonal changes, or simply down to prolonged periods of standing up over many years. Lifestyle choices such as too much alcohol, too much exposure to sun and smoking have also been linked to an increased risk of developing thread veins.

They appear as small clusters of blue or red veins that have become dilated under the surface of the skin and are usually visible on the cheeks, nose and legs.  There are no painful symptoms associated with thread veins but because of their visible nature, they can cause some degree of distress and create a feeling of unattractiveness to those who have them.

Less than a year after Sir Bradley Wiggins’ cycling victories, doctors have now noted that more men are coming to see them regarding treatment options to remove their thread veins. Common treatments to remove them include laser treatment, whereby the veins absorb the light from the laser and are subsequently destroyed.  There is also a procedure called a Microsclerotherapy, where injections are administered via a very fine needle into the thread veins. This results in the lining of the veins swelling up so that no blood is able to flow through them.

Dr Peter Finigan is specialist thread vein practitioner at Dr Newmans Clinic, a nationwide doctor-led consultancy who specialise in the removal of thread veins. Since September 2012, Dr Finigan has treated over 50 male cyclists at his clinic.

He commented on the new trend, saying: “There has been a significant rise in male cyclists requesting our treatment. One comes along, has his thread veins removed, and recommends it to his friends. Then three or four more from the same cycling club make appointments to see us because they’ve been talking about their thread veins to each other when they have a break. It’s normally only once they’ve shaved or waxed their legs that they even notice the thread veins, even though they may have had them for years. Sometimes, fellow cyclists point them out, so they feel self-conscious and want to do something about them.”

MHRA pull the plug on dangerous sports supplements

A popular sports supplement drink used for losing weight or as a pre-exercise boost agent for gym fanatics, has this week been banned from the UK market by The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after the Governmental agency deemed that Jack3D’s side effects were potentially dangerous. Their main concern was due to the product containing the stimulant known as DMAA (1, 3-dimethylamylamine).

Ingestion of DMAA has been shown to be connected to shortness of breath, narrowing of arteries, psychiatric disorders, vomiting, heart attacks and strokes.  Due to the safety concerns, the MHRA have long campaigned for any products that contain DMAA to be classified as unlicensed medicinal products and should be governed by strict medicine controls.

DMAA has already been banned in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Association following the death of a man who had obtained a sports aid through the internet that had contained the lethal substance. In addition, there would have been no chance of any athletes taking it at the London Olympics earlier in the month, as DMAA is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substances.

Sports supplements with DMAA have long gotten away with such free public sale as a ‘medicinal product’ due to the potent herbal properties in them. However, as the dangers have become more and more apparent, action needed to be taken and this came in the form of the MHRA issuing eight ‘urgent notices’ ordering all retailers to immediately withdraw Jack3D and all other similar products  that have DMAA in them.

David Carter, the Manager of the MHRA’s Medicines Borderline Section, spoke on the risks about the drug and said, “People need to be aware when choosing their sports supplements. These products may claim to increase performance but contain powerful ingredients which can have serious side-effects. We recommend that people only use approved products and speak to a qualified medical practitioner if they have any concerns about any supplements they may be taking.”

Graham Arthur, Director of Legal at UK Anti-Doping, added to David Carter’s comments and he said, “This is a significant step forward for all competitive athletes as methylhexaneamine (DMAA) is a banned substance ‘in-competition’ that frequently appears in over the counter and internet bought products but not clearly on the label.  Athletes who use sports supplements need to choose reputable manufacturers who can justify their claims with scientific evidence, and have their products screened to minimise the risk of testing positive for a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. UK Anti-Doping continues to work closely with the MHRA to protect the health of athletes and to prevent doping in sport.”