Varicose veins are extremely commonplace and much is already known about them. But, there is another issue that can arise from veins in the leg and also the face area, this is often referred to as spider veins. They often appear closer to the skins surface than the varicose variety. Generally they are either blue or reddish in color, taking on the appearance of branches from a tree or indeed spider webs.
This article will take a look at just what causes these short jagged veins to become so prominent, plus what steps can be taken to remove them.
What Causes Spider Veins?
In most cases, spider veins are generated because of a back-up of blood in the vein itself. Although many medical professionals suggest that they can also be brought about by injuries, exposure to the sun and also from hormonal changes.
Unlike varicose veins, the spider vein is often found on faces. Sometimes they are considered to be fairly small; however there are also cases of them being quite sizable.
Increased Risk Factors for Spider Veins
It seems that there are a number of factors that can influence the likelihood of a person developing spider veins. Some of these factors include:
- Increased age
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Sun exposure
When a person gets older, the valves that operate in the veins might not work as effectively as they did before. This will often mean that blood doesn’t get fully pumped back to the heart and stays dormant in veins. Over time, this can start to expand the vein until it becomes more noticeable.
Pregnancy is, of course, a time when there is large increase in the amounts of blood that the body uses. This alone will often cause veins to grow bigger. After delivery of the baby, the spider veins will normally start to clear up; although this can take as long as three months. After each successive pregnancy, a greater number of spider veins will normally appear.
Spider Veins’ Health Issues
Thankfully, in the majority of cases, there is no serious health risk associated to spider veins. Typically, a sufferer will only complain of a slight itching or burning sensation.
Spider Veins’ Treatments
The treatment for spider veins is very different from that of the varicose variety. Less invasive processes have been developed to clear up this issue.
Normally a doctor will inject a chemical compound; this works to collapse the vein. This particular treatment process is referred to sclerotherapy. Black and sometimes blue spots will be seen near the injection areas, although these will tend to disappear after two or three weeks.
Avoiding Spider Veins
It would seem that genetics plays a large part in whether or not a person will go on to develop spider veins. Exercising regularly can help to keep them at bay as well as adopting a healthy diet. Avoiding salt will restrict the opportunity of spider veins to develop, as salt causes water retention, which in turn puts additional pressure on veins.
When the spider veins are on a person’s legs, it is a good idea to increase exercise. This will help to promote better blood flow around this region of the body. Leg elevation can also help reduce the likeliness of development.
Sitting for long periods of time can influence the chances of spider veins appearing. In these cases, it is important to get up and walk about every 30 minutes or so, as this will help to develop an improved blood flow in the legs. Likewise if an individual has to stand for a long time, they should try to shift their weight from one leg to the other every few minutes.
Gem Wilson is a keen amateur novelist and copywriter. She enjoys reading and writing about personal health; for expert advice on spider veins visit www.DoctorQA.com.
