Do you have spider veins in your legs that do not look good at all?
Spider veins and varicose veins occur due to weakness or damage in the veins.
It is important to note that varicose veins are often larger, however, both are extremely visible.
Spider veins can be blue, purple, or red, and can appear in the form of thin lines, webs, or branches.
Moreover, people also refer to them as thread veins.
Often they are not painful, however, some people may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.
With the help of different treatment options, you can remove spider veins or reduce their appearance.
Keep on reading to learn more about the causes of spider veins, or telangiectases, how they are different from varicose veins, treatment, and prevention tips.
Causes of Spider Veins
Spider veins in your legs can occur when the valves inside the veins stop working properly.
Veins carry blood back to your heart. In order to prevent blood from flowing backward, they contain a one-way valve.
This valve closes once the blood passes through it.
However, if this valve weakens or sustains damage, the blood may have difficulty flowing in the correct direction.
It can begin to pool inside the vein, as a result.
Over time, this can cause a bulge in the vein that branches out, thus, resulting in spider veins.
Moreover, spider veins on the face often result due to tiny blood vessels bursting.
An increase in pressure or sun damage can cause these to occur.
Varicose Veins vs. Spider Veins
It is important to note that spider veins and varicose veins are different forms of a medical condition: venous insufficiency.
Both conditions result from having weakened or damaged valves in the veins of your legs.
However, both of these issues have different symptoms.
Spider veins are usually small, thin lines that can be flat or slightly raised.
They are often blue, red, or purple, and though they can cause some discomfort, they are painless in most cases.
While varicose veins are larger and deeper than spider veins and can appear lumpy or twisted.
Depending on their severity, varicose veins can cause a number of symptoms.
These are:
- pain
- itching
- bleeding
- swelling of the legs or ankles
- an achy or heavy feeling in the legs
Moreover, varicose veins can also increase your risk of blood clots and circulation problems.
Stages of Development of Varicose Veins
Though each case is slightly different the following six stages of symptoms tend to appear and are as follows:
Spider Veins – Stage 1
These small, reddish-purple veins are visible on your legs, ankles, neck, face, and other areas.
However, these are not necessarily related to varicose veins.
They can occur due to the same underlying chronic venous insufficiency, CVI.
Moreover, they tend to be more common in women than in men.
Enlarged, Ropy Varicose Veins – Stage 2
In most cases, doctors can also refer to them as stage 1 as they are spider veins that do not precede them.
This is the stage at which you first become aware of the vein disease.
The swollen veins can also be accompanied by:
- itching
- burning
- numbness along the veins themselves
- tired, weak, or achy legs
Moreover, this is the best stage at which you should get treatment.
Edema or Swelling without discoloration – Stage 3
In this stage, you will notice swelling of your legs and ankles that increases due to CVI.
During this stage, CVI impairs the ability of your circulatory system to reabsorb fluid.
Elevation of the limbs can help, however, will not cure the disease or reduce the swelling.
Skin Changes and Discoloration – Stage 4
During this stage, you can observe scratches or injuries to the tough skin that may heal with treatment.
But it often leaves scars.
Skin Changes with Active Ulceration – Stage 6
This one is the final stage of the CVI, and injuries to the skin and leg ulcers are unable to heal even with the help of treatment.
Furthermore, this can leave your legs covered with bleeding, and open sores.
Risk Factors of Developing Spider Veins
Some of the factors that can increase your risk of developing spider veins are:
Genetics: Up to 90% of the people with spider veins have a family history of them.
Pregnancy: An increase in blood flow and the extra weight of the fetus on leg veins can put you at an increased risk of developing spider veins.
Sex: Spider veins tend to occur in 41% of females with age 50 and over.
Moreover, they affect females almost twice as much as males.
Age: The valves in your veins get weaker as your age over time.
The calf muscles help to support the veins in your legs and enable you to pump blood upward.
It may also lose some of its strength as you age.
Being Overweight: Extra body weight can add more pressure to your leg veins.
Hormones: Hormonal birth control and hormonal treatment for menopause can increase your risk of spider veins.
This happens because estrogen can weaken the vein valves.
Sitting or Standing for a Long Time: Veins in your legs have to work harder to pump blood up toward your heart when you remain in the same position for more than 4 hours.
Past Blood Clots or Vein Damage: This can cause damage to the valves and make them unable to work correctly.
Sun Damage: UV light from the sun can damage your skin and cause broken vessels or spider veins, especially on your face.
Treatment Options
Though in most cases, spider veins are harmless, you may want to treat or remove them for cosmetic reasons.
The different treatment options you can try are;
Compression Stockings or Socks
Wearing compression stockings or socks will help place pressure on the veins in your lower legs.
This pressure can help to improve the blood flow and even prevent further spider or varicose veins.
Moreover, compression stockings can also help relieve leg swelling and lower the risk of blood clots in the legs.
Types of compression stockings are:
- Support Pantyhose: These provide only light pressure but are available in a number of stores
- Gradient Compression Stockings and Socks: These will provide medium pressure around your feet, ankles, and calves. These are often available at specialist stores and pharmacies
- Prescription Compression Stockings: This type will provide the most pressure on the feet and legs. Moreover, they come in varying sizes and strengths, as well as footless varieties. Prescription compression stocking, however, is not suitable for some people including those who had heart failure or other heart problems.
Sclerotherapy and Closure System for Spider Veins
Sclerotherapy involves injecting an irritant directly into the affected vein.
Due to irritation, the veins will stick together.
Moreover, this will keep your blood from flowing into the area.
This procedure can help reduce swelling and cause the vein to shrink.
Over time, the spider veins will fade or vanish.
However, you can get different treatments to obtain the desired results.
Just like sclerotherapy, you can opt for closure system treatment.
This treatment also involves injecting a substance into the affected veins.
Furthermore, this substance is sticky, and it will help close the vein off from the blood flow.
Thus, causing the spider vein to fade or disappear with time.
Just like sclerotherapy, you will need a number of other treatments to produce the desired outcome.
Other Treatments for Spider Veins
Some other treatment options are:
Laser Treatment
A healthcare professional can use a laser to treat small spider veins close to the surface of the skin.
The laser is a strong, focused beam of light that causes the spider vein to clot and dries up.
Moreover, laser treatment is less invasive than sclerotherapy and closure systems are there is no injection.
However, they can be less effective in reducing spider veins.
Endovenous Laser Therapy, EVLT
EVLT is a newer procedure for treating spider veins and small varicose veins.
During this procedure, your healthcare provider will make a small incision in the affected vein and insert a laser fiber.
Then, the laser applies heat directly to the vein and causes it to collapse.
Moreover, the vein will take several months or up to a month to disappear.
It is important to note that EVLT will involve the use of local anesthesia.
Surgery
Though some surgical treatments can be effective in the case of larger varicose veins, many doctors often do not perform them on spider veins.
Prevention Tips
With the help of certain lifestyle changes and self-care tips, you can prevent new spider veins from appearing or stop existing ones from getting worse.
These are:
Wearing Sunscreen: Applying sunscreen every day can help to prevent spider veins, especially on your face.
Moreover, you can use sun-protective hats and clothing when outdoors for extended periods.
Reaching or Maintaining a Moderate Weight: This will help to reduce pressure on your veins and keeps the blood flowing well.
Compression Stockings: In case spider veins or varicose veins are a concern or run in the family, you can consider wearing compression stockings or socks.
Staying Mobile: It is important to avoid sitting or standing for extended periods of time without taking a break.
Avoid Tight Clothing: Clothing that is too light, especially around your waist, legs, or pelvis, can restrict blood flow.
Moreover, it can also increase the risk of spider veins.
Using Hot Tubs and Saunas: Excessive heat can cause your veins to swell, thus, increasing the risk of dilated and bulging veins in your legs.
Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcohol can cause flushing in your face and broken vessels in some cases.
Regualr Exercise: Physical activity can help to improve circulation and prevent blood from pooling in your legs.
Elevating the Legs: Raising your legs when sitting or lying down can help to prevent the blood from pooling downward in your legs.
Contracting a Dermatologist: If you have a skin condition that may increase the risk of spider veins like rosacea, you may want to consider contacting a doctor.
Or seek medical advice or talk to a dermatologist to discuss treatment options.
Cover-up Products: In case the appearance of spider veins is a concern, you can use body or leg makeup to mask or minimize them temporarily.
Self-tanning products can also work for this purpose.
Final Thoughts
Spider veins tend to result from damaged veins or burst blood vessels, are usually painless, and do not cause health problems. However, you may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.
With the help of different treatment options, you can help improve the appearance of spider veins or remove them altogether. For medical procedures, it is always crucial to contact a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in dermatology, vein care, or cosmetic or plastic surgery.