Spider Vein Causes - Spider Veins Treatment
How Can I Treat Spider Veins?
Spider veins are small, red, blue, or purple veins that commonly develop on the legs. Up to 50% of women and 25% of men are believed to have spider veins. Spider veins are caused by a combination of factors, including vein valve incompetency, heredity, aging, pregnancy, prolonged periods of sitting or standing at work. In this article, we will discuss the causes and treatments of spider veins.
Most people don’t know this, but spider veins are not a result of age. While they are more common in older people, they can appear at any time in one’s life. So, if you’re starting to see more and more spider veins popping up on your skin, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
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The different causes of spider veins
Spider veins are caused by chronic pooling of blood in the lower legs. In general, valves in the veins of the lower leg prevent blood from pooling. As we age, the valves in veins lose some of their function and you get more pooling of the blood in the lower leg veins, leading to vein dilation and spider and varicose veins. Sedentary lifestyles and and being overweight can also contribute to spider veins. The legs are one of the most common sites of spider veins, where they are most common on the thighs and calves.
Spider veins can be reddish, yellow or blue, and they may appear as either just a small vein or as a complex network of thin, reddish-pink veins with large, blue-purple spots. The colors of the skin around spider veins are due to red blood cells spilling into the skin around the veins and then getting metabolized into byproducts of blood metabolism called heme.
What are the symptoms of spider veins
While spider veins are generally asymptomatic, they can be unsightly and cause a person to feel self-conscious about their appearance. In some cases, spider veins may also cause discomfort or aching.
There are several ways to treat spider veins, including topical ointments and creams, laser therapy, and sclerotherapy. In this article, we will discuss these treatments in-depth and help you decide which is the best option for you.
Spider Vein Treatment
Topical ointments and creams
While creams don’t change the actual spider veins, certain topical creams can improve the discoloration in the skin that occurs from chronic spider veins and chronic venous congestion, called venous stasis dermatitis.
Skintensive’s Bruise & Scar cream is packed with an Arnica montana, vitamin E and vitamin K and can lessen the pigmentary changes that occur in people who have spider and varicose veins.
Compression stockings, or socks
Compression stockings can also help to reduce the appearance of spider veins. Compression stockings are thin, tight-fitting stockings that are worn throughout the day. They are best put on in the morning and then worn all day, to be removed again in the evening before bed.
Wearing compression stockings can help control swelling in your legs. This helps to prevent spider veins from getting worse. Skintensive’s own brand of Venosure compression socks was meticulously designed to allow ease of wear, proper compression, comfort, and style. They should be launched in early 2023!
Laser therapy and other varicose vein treatments
When getting advanced vein treatment, make sure to find a board-certified dermatologist or other physician (such as an interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon) that specializes in medical vein treatments. Just as important as the treatment itself is a comprehensive medical assessment of your specific venous condition and review of options to treat this condition.
Sclerotherapy is an injectable treatment that involves having specialized fluids injected into spider veins that cause them to collapse and reduces their appearance. Laser therapy can also be an effective treatment for small spider veins, and telangiectasias anywhere on the body. Medical vein specialists also offer other advanced treatments including endovascular laser ablation and vein stripping.
Is there a product that acts as a preventative?
Yes. Some treatments work as a preventive for the discoloration that results from spider veins. Skintensive Bruise & Scar cream can help fade the pigmentary changes that occur due to blood spilled into the skin from chronic spider veins. Additionally, Skintensive’s Venosure compression socks can be a great combination to further prevent new varicose veins from developing and prevent enlargement of current varicose veins.
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Disclaimer:
The content in this article is not medical advice, but rather informational content. As a service to our readers, Skintensive provides access to our library of archived blog content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other medical professional.