Many women avoid wearing shorts and skirts in order to conceal spider veins on their legs and ankles.

While these dilated blood vessels are usually harmless and painless, they can become a cosmetic concern and cause self-consciousness.

While spider veins can’t be entirely avoided, there are several ways to prevent and treat them and improve the appearance of your skin.

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are usually red, purple, or blue in color and appear as lines, clusters, or webs.

They usually occur on the legs, ankles, and face but can be visible on other parts of the body.

What Causes Spider Veins?

When blood does not properly return to the heart, often due to a faulty or damaged valve, it can pool in veins and cause them to become enlarged.

The result is an unsightly spider or varicose vein.

Risk Factors for Spider Veins

Women are more likely to encounter spider veins compared to men. Older individuals are also at greater risk, as valves weaken with age.

Other contributing factors may include a family history of spider veins and hormonal changes, including puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Increased blood volume during pregnancy also increases a women’s chances of experiencing these enlarged vessels.

Additionally, obesity and lack of movement place pressure on the veins and make it more difficult for blood to circulate.

Lastly, sun exposure may lead to spider veins on the cheeks and nose.

Preventing Spider Veins

Lifestyle modifications can help patients minimize their risk for spider veins.

Some of these methods include maintaining a stable weight to reduce pressure on veins, exercising regularly to strengthen legs and promote circulate, and wearing a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF.

For individuals that must sit for prolonged periods of time, taking breaks every hour to stand up and stretch, elevating legs as often as possible, and keeping legs uncrossed are other ways to prevent spider veins.

Spider Vein Treatments

A series of Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments is often recommended for red or pink spider veins on the face or body.

Additionally, sclerotherapy is an in-office procedure that can eliminate spider veins.

Treatment starts with identification of the affected vein. Then it’s injected with a solution, such as Glycerin or Asclera, that causes the spider vein to collapse and disappear within 3-6 weeks. Lastly, the patient is fitted with compression stockings, which must be worn for 1 week.

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