Spider veins, also known as telangiectasia or veins and threads, reminiscent of a spider’s web or tree branches. They occur when damage to blood vessels near the surface of the skin causes them to expand. Spider veins can appear anywhere, but are usually found on the legs and face.
Spider veins are raised, appear blue or purple, and are 1-3 millimeters in diameter. Arterial spider veins are flat, appear red or pink, and are 0.1-1 millimeter in diameter.
Spider veins are usually harmless to your general health, but they can indicate severe vein disease, where damaged veins are unable to return blood to the heart. Spider veins can’t always be prevented, but you can reduce your risk.
Both men and women can develop spider veins, but they are more common in people who were assigned female at birth. Spider veins affect more than half of females.
Other risk factors include general aging, obesity, and working in an environment where you sit or stand for long periods of time. Smoking tobacco, applying steroids to the skin, eating a low-fiber diet, taking female hormones, or a medical history venous thromboembolism may also increase risk.
People who are pregnant are also at increased risk of spider veins because pregnancy increases the amount of blood produced and pumped through the body. This extra blood causes the veins to swell. The growing uterus, or uterus, also puts pressure on the veins, which can cause varicose veins.
The likelihood of developing spider veins is strongly related to genetics and family history. Research shows that 90% of people with spider veins have a family history of developing them.
Although it is not always possible to prevent spider veins, you can reduce your risk. Methods include establishing healthy lifestyle habits, choosing certain medical procedures and applying complementary methods that help improve blood flow in the legs.
Testing/Screening
Spider veins are primarily diagnosed by a physical examination by a doctor. There are no laboratory tests that diagnose spider veins, but imaging tests may be ordered if chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is suspected.
In CVI, the leg veins become damaged and do not allow blood to return back to the heart. The condition can get worse if left undiagnosed and untreated, so healthcare professionals may use imaging tests such as:
- Duplex ultrasound: This test examines how blood moves through the veins and arteries. It combines traditional ultrasound (which uses sound waves that bounce off blood vessels) with Doppler ultrasound (which measures blood speed and flow by recording sound waves that bounce off moving objects such as blood).
- Contrast venography: This X-ray involves injecting an intravenous (IV) contrast dye into a vein to show how blood flows through the veins.
- Magnetic resonance venography: This imaging test uses magnets, IV contrast dye, and radiofrequency to produce images of the veins and their blood flow.
Life habits
Changes in your lifestyle can help reduce your risk of spider veins. Habit changes that can help include:
- Avoid or limit smoking: Smoking is linked to the formation of spider veins, so stop or limit smoking to reduce your risk.
- Wear sunscreen. The sun is another risk factor for spider veins, especially on the face. To prevent them from forming, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 every day.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Research shows that extra weight can make it harder for your veins to move blood back to the heart, leading to the formation of spider veins. Regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight and improve blood circulation in the legs and body.
- Take breaks to move: If you sit or stand for a long time, taking frequent breaks to move (every 30 minutes) will help your leg muscles move blood back to the heart more efficiently.
Complementary methods
In addition to the lifestyle changes and tests mentioned above, some complementary treatment methods reduce the risk of spider veins and CVI. This includes:
- Wear compression socks or stockings: Compression garments are tight stockings or socks that apply pressure to your veins to promote healthy circulation and increase blood flow to your legs.
- Raise your legs: Elevating your feet while sitting can help return the blood in your legs to your heart.
- Take pycnolgenol: Limited research has shown that supplementation with pycnolgenolor pine bark extract, may help blood circulation and fluid retention in people with CVI. More research is needed to fully understand the potential link.
Procedures
Certain procedures can help reduce or eliminate the appearance of spider veins. This includes:
- Sclerotherapy: This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a chemical solution into spider veins, which causes them to swell. This stops blood flow and causes the vein to fade over several weeks.
- Thermocoagulation: This non-invasive procedure uses high-frequency current to reduce or eliminate spider veins on the face.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy: A concentrated pulse of light is delivered to the spider veins, generating heat and damaging the vein walls. It may take several sessions of IPL to eliminate spider veins.
If you are concerned about the appearance of spider veins, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options and preventative measures you can take.
While spider veins are usually present without symptoms, some people may experience burning, pain, cramping, itching, or leg fatigue. Contact your doctor if these symptoms become uncomfortable, persistent, or painful.
Spider veins are damaged blood vessels under the skin. It is not always possible to prevent spider veins, but there are treatment options available to remove or remove them.
Taking steps to prevent spider veins from returning after these procedures is crucial. Wearing compression stockings, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun and taking frequent breaks to move around during the day can help reduce your risk.