Spider Veins: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins and varicose veins are sometimes used interchangeably; however, they are quite different. Spider veins appear smaller and closer to the surface of the skin, usually flat or just slightly raised. They are known as spider veins because of their network of short, jagged lines resembling spider webs.

Like varicose veins, these are caused by a pooling of blood when valves are weakened or damaged. The valves in veins are responsible for carrying the blood flow from the legs back to the heart. When vein walls become damaged, they create vein problems and some other complications such as blood clots.

The tiny blood vessels often appear on legs, thighs, ankles or in some cases, the face and they are generally red, blue or purple. They are almost always painless but can be a cosmetic nuisance. 

Risk Factors

• Genetics: If your family has a medical history of spider veins, you have more of a chance of developing them.

• Pregnancy: Increased blood flow puts pressure on veins in the legs during pregnancy. Vein problems might disappear after pregnancy is over. 

• Excess Body Weight: Too much weight on the body can add pressure to leg veins. 

• Lack of Exercises: Many people have jobs requiring sitting or standing for long periods of time. Being in the same position for a prolonged time can cause them to develop.

• Sun damage: UVA & UVB from the sun causes damage to the skin, which then breaks blood vessels and creates spider veins.

• Age: Vein walls weaken as people age. The calf muscle, which supports leg veins to pump blood upward, will also weaken. 

Treatment Options

Spider Veins are almost always painless but can be a cosmetic nuisance. Simple outpatient procedures such as sclerotherapy or laser treatment are both used to reduce or eliminate their appearance. These procedures are non-surgical and have minimal or no downtime.

Conservative Therapy

Wearing Compression Stockings

• Support stockings: Hose provides light pressure.

• Gradient compression stockings: Compression stockings are graded to help with different levels of blood flow. Compression stockings come four levels: mild (8-15 mmHg), Medium (15-20 mmHg), Firm (20-30 mmHg), X-Firm (30-40 mmHg).

• Prescription compression stocking: Requires a doctor's prescription. They provide the most pressure, but they aren't suitable for everyone. Consult our physicians for compression stocking options.

Healthy Lifestyle

• Eating healthy food. Recommended diet for venous insufficiency

• Exercising often. A good 30 minutes of exercise every day can help to prevent the development of spider veins and maintain your vein health.

Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)

Endovenous laser ablation involves no surgery or downtime and the procedure itself lasts between 30-60 minutes.

EVLT vs. Radiofrequency Energy: Which is a better vein treatment?

Endovenous laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation are both energy sources that generate heat to close the vein. This is called thermal ablation. Each procedure produces heat through different methods, but endovenous laser ablation allows doctors to get the laser fiber into smaller veins.

Sclerotherapy

Physicians inject an irritant directly into the affected vein. When the walls of the veins react, they stick together and keep blood from flowing into the area. Sclerotherapy can reduce swelling and the spider vein will disappear.

Schedule a Free Screening

Find a Spider Vein Doctor Near Me

The vein specialists at our 12 vein clinics are happy to bring confidence and comfort back to your life. We do minimally invasive spider vein treatments at affordable prices. Book a free screening at your nearest vein clinic to learn more about your vein condition, risk factors, preventive care, vein treatment and insurance coverage.

We offer spider vein treatments in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.

• Vein Clinics in South Dakota

• Minnesota Vein Clinics

• Iowa Vein Clinics

Frequently Asked Questions