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| Know How to Spot, Treat and Prevent Unsightly Spider Veins |
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While arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins carry blood to the heart. As the blood flows back to the heart, veins regulate blood flow, preventing the blood from flowing in the wrong direction. In some cases, especially over time, a vein may weaken, and some blood may trickle back into the vein. As the blood collects in the vein, it can become congested or clogged, causing the vein to swell.
These enlarged veins, which can appear as spider veins, are quite common, especially among the aging female population. According to The National Women’s Health Information Center, as many as 60% of all American women and men have some form of spider veins. Women, however, are more affected by 50%. 41% of women in their 50s, in fact, suffer from varicose or spider veins.
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| What are Spider Veins? |
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| Spider veins: Smaller than varicose veins, spider veins, or “telangectasias,” appear as red or blue lines anywhere on the leg or face. Spider veins are named for their web-like appearance on the skin’s surface. |
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| Causes of Spider Veins |
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A number of factors may trigger the appearance of spider veins, including:
- Heredity
- Excess sun exposure
- Pregnancy
- Weight gain
- Certain medications
- Taking birth control pills
- Prolonged standing
- Traumatizing the skin via a hard pinch, for example
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| Relieve and Prevent Spider Veins |
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Treatment for spider veins initially begins with attempts to compress the region with stockings or support hosiery. Graduated support stockings, which gently and evenly reduce fatigue, pain and swelling, can help people suffering from poor circulation, edema, chronic venous insufficiency and spider veins.
If wearing support stockings does not alleviate symptoms of spider veins, various treatments, including injections, laser skin surgery or surgery to destroy the damaged veins, can be attempted. Even with treatment, however, these spider veins can return in other places on the body, so it’s best to take preventative measures to avoid getting spider veins in the first place.
The National Women’s Health Information Center recommends the following prevention techniques to avoid against spider veins:
- To help avoid against spider veins, protect your skin from the sun by avoiding exposure or wearing sunscreen when outside.
- It’s important to exercise not only to keep your body healthy, but to help guard against spider veins as well. Exercise is crucial in improving the strength of your veins and leg muscles.
- Do not cross your legs!
- Avoid wearing clothing that restricts circulation.
- Control your weight: do not engage in “roller coaster” weight loss and weight gain periods if you want to avoid getting spider veins.
- Standing for long periods of time can contribute to your likelihood of getting spider veins. If that’s unavoidable – if you have a job as a saleswoman, for example – remember to continually shift your weight from one leg to the other.
- Eat enough fiber. Did you know that constipation can contribute to spider veins?
- Wear elastic support stockings to improve circulation and guard against spider veins.
If you do not see results after pursuing spider vein treatment, you may want to talk to your physician about alternative spider vein treatment options.
Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on muscoskeletal health. |
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| Disclaimer for Health Content Pages |
FootSmart lower body health condition content pages describe general principles of healthcare that should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual consumers. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication or as a substitute for proper medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This healthcare content is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions – only a healthcare provider can do that.
You should discuss the information provided with a podiatrist, physician or other licensed healthcare professional, and make sure to read any product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions and contraindications before administering or using any device, support, brace, compression hosiery, shoes intended for use by diabetics, skincare product, herb, vitamin or supplement discussed on this site.
Proper treatment of lower body health conditions depends upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, your medical history, diet, lifestyle and medications that may be taking. Your healthcare provider can best assess and address your individual healthcare needs. |
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