Spider Vein Basics

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Texas Vein & Wellness Institute

If you are scared of household spiders, then you might be equally as scared of spider veins. Spider veins or telangiectasias are small thin blood vessels underneath the skin that typically look like a series of thin branches or a spider web. Although spider veins typically aren’t as painful or noticeable as varicose veins, they can cause symptoms such as aching, swelling, leg-cramping, and burn. To help you understand a little bit more about spider veins, let’s take a closer look at some of the basics.

Spider Veins Are Common

Spider veins aren’t necessarily something you talk to strangers about or even friends about at the dinner table. So, you might know more people who have spider veins than you may be aware of. Spider veins are extremely common and affect nearly half of the population of adults in the United States.

What Causes Spider Veins?

Spider veins are caused when there is a backflow of blood in the veins. This condition is called “venous reflux.” As the blood collects in the veins, their walls distend and lead to spider veins.

Spider Veins Can Appear All Over The Body

Unlike varicose veins that are primarily on the feet, calves and feet, spider veins can be on the legs, face, genitals, and abdomen.

Spider Vein Treatments

Here at Texas Vein & Wellness Institute, we offer patients a variety of spider vein treatments. Depending on the severity of your spider veins, we may recommend that you make simple lifestyle changes like weight loss and regular exercise. If these changes don’t work, we may also recommend either compression stockings or a treatment called sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a treatment that involves injecting the affected veins with a solution like saline. Once they are injected, it causes them to collapse and ultimately dissolve.