Do you suffer from spider veins? Most adults over the age of 50 in the United States suffer from some sort of veinous condition, spider veins among them, and many adults are unhappy with this embarrassing cosmetic issue.

Unlike varicose veins, which can be a medical issue as well as a cosmetic one, spider veins tend to, on their own, be harmless–although they could be a signal of a deeper veinous insufficiency.

What Causes Spider Veins?

Basically, both spider veins and varicose veins are caused when the valves that pump blood back to the heart in the veins become weakened. Backflow of blood occurs, and blood pools and increases pressure in the veins.

This is what causes the bulged out appearance of the vein.

Who Is Affected by Spider Veins?

Venous insufficiency, the general term for when the veins aren’t able to fully function properly, has a number of different pathologies. It may be due to aging. Hormonal changes can also cause venous insufficiency.

Women tend to be at higher risk than men, especially during hormonal changes such as menopause or pregnancy.

What Can Be Done About Spider Veins?

If you suffer from venous insufficiency and want to relieve the symptoms — such as an achy or burning feeling in the legs, then there are a few treatments you can do at home such as elevating your legs or wearing compression socks.

If you want to get rid of spider veins or varicose veins, especially for cosmetic purposes, you will generally need to perform a procedure such as sclerotherapy or laser vein treatment. The crux of both these procedures is, essentially, they collapse the veins and reroute blood flow through your body.

If you’re interested in either of these procedures, please talk to your doctor and find out if it’s right for you.

If you want to know more, call the Vein Center of Maryland to schedule an appointment. We are conveniently located in Westminster, Eldersburg, Baltimore, Hunt Valley and Bel Air.

We also service Ellicott City and Columbia in Howard County.