No one likes to look at their face or legs and see little blue and purple lines networking across their skin like a road map. These spider veins can cause people to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable in public and some people feel they have to hide them under lots of clothing or makeup before venturing out and about. Unfortunately, millions of people struggle with these annoying spider veins and don’t know where they came from or how to get rid of them. Let’s take a look at what these spider veins are and how we can treat them.
Spider Veins
Spider veins are small, damaged veins typically measuring less than 1mm in diameter, and often appearing in clusters. They most frequently appear on the surface of the legs or even the face. Typically, they are not painful or harmful but can be symptomatic or an indicator of deeper venous issues. They are generally more of a visual nuisance than a medical problem, but they may cause an achy or tingling feeling when in the legs.
These are some of the factors that can contribute to the development of spider veins:
- Heredity (legs and face)
- Obesity (predominantly affecting legs)
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause (in legs or face)
- Standing or sitting for long periods of time (in legs)
