What are spider veins?
Named because of their web-like appearance on the surface of your skin, spider veins are small damaged veins that typically develop on your face and legs. They are generally harmless in terms of pain, but people often remove them for cosmetic reasons.
Spider veins are often blue, purple, or red, and they are either flat or slightly raised.
What causes spider veins?
Spider veins that develop in your legs are often the result of venous insufficiency, a condition in which the valves in the veins in your legs aren’t working properly.
Your heart sends out oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood through your arteries and then the blood returns to your heart through your veins.
To keep your blood flowing in the right direction, especially in your legs where your blood has to fight both distance and gravity, your blood vessels are equipped with tiny valves that shut once the blood passes through, preventing it from spilling backward. If these valves begin to malfunction, blood can pool, engorging your veins and creating spider veins.
Other factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including:
- Changes in weather or pressure
- Genetics
- Pregnancy (a hormonal effect)
- Rosacea
The good news is that no matter how your spider veins developed, there are effective treatments that can diminish their appearance.
How are spider veins prevented or treated?
The team at NJ Vein Specialists recommends preventive measures first and foremost, such as wearing compression socks to help your blood flow back up to your heart.
For existing spider veins, your specialist may recommend minimally invasive procedures like sclerotherapy to close off the vein, forcing the blood to reroute through healthier vessels further below the surface of your skin.
Certain laser treatments also accomplish the same objective — destroying the vein and rerouting your blood to other vessels.
Endovenous laser therapy is another option in which heat from the laser is directly applied to the vein, causing it to collapse.
To learn more about your options for preventing or treating spider veins, call NJ Vein Specialists, or request an appointment using the online booking tool.
