All About Spider Veins

All About Spider Veins

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Texas Vein & Wellness Institute

It’s the time of year for fun costumes, pumpkin treats and scaring yourself silly. This Halloween season, don’t be creeped out by your spider veins! At Texas Vein & Wellness Institute, we believe that knowledge is power and we’d love to tell you all about spider veins including how they’re caused, treatment options, and more.

How are spider veins caused?

Spider veins are caused by a backflow of blood in your veins. As the blood collects inside these veins, the walls swell increasing the size of the veins, making them visible beneath the surface of your skin. This gives your veins that red or blue web-like appearance. Spider veins usually occur on legs and faces.

Who gets spider veins?

There is a higher risk of developing spider veins during periods of hormonal change. This includes puberty, menopause, pregnancy, and while taking birth control. Because of this, spider veins are much more common in women than men.

Other risk factors for developing spider veins include:

• Increasing age over 50
• Smoking
• Family history
• Prolonged sitting or standing
• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Sun exposure

How are they treated?

Luckily there are many minimally invasive treatment options for spider veins. Though weight loss and exercise are usually suggested in treating spider veins, we also offer sclerotherapy and laser therapy treatments.

Sclerotherapy treatment is performed in a doctor’s office and involves injecting a sclerosant into the affected vein to collapse it. These treatments take about an hour and the typical patient will need two to four treatments.

There are several different types of laser therapy that can be done on spider veins. To determine the best course of action for you, it’s best to make an appointment with a doctor.

Are spider veins dangerous?

Typically, spider veins aren’t dangerous. They are usually just a cosmetic concern which is what motivates patients to go through the removal process. It is possible for untreated spider veins to turn into varicose veins which are more of a serious medical condition.