How to Get Rid of Spider Veins

Spider veins are a frequent disorder in which blood vessels beneath the skin look like red, blue, or purple webs or groups of thin, squiggly lines. They are generally harmless. However, many individuals choose to remove them for smoother skin.

Spider veins form when little valves inside your veins have difficulty moving blood to your heart, causing blood to pool inside the vein rather than flow through it. Pooled blood causes spider veins to darken and become visible through the skin. Spider vein clusters might resemble bruises or spiderwebs.

Spider veins are most commonly found in your legs but can also arise on your face and other regions. They don't create much swelling, so the skin around them remains flat or slightly elevated. Larger versions of spider veins, known as varicose veins, can form and protrude beneath the skin rather than remaining flat.

Spider veins are often not harmful or uncomfortable however, they might cause aches and stiffness. They can occasionally indicate more significant underlying issues.

Spider veins are more likely to appear based on these factors:

- Gender. Women are more likely than men to acquire spider veins. Pregnant women are also more likely to develop varicose veins since more blood must move through the body while carrying a baby, putting additional strain on the veins.

- Family history. Up to 90% of patients with spider veins have family members with the same problem, implying that it runs in families.

- Age. Spider veins are more likely to develop as you age, affecting more than 41% of women over 50.

- Activity level. Jobs that require you to be on your feet for extended lengths of time, such as serving tables or nursing, and those that need you to sit for extended periods, can increase your risk of getting spider veins. Staying in one posture for an extended time might cause your legs' veins to thicken and weaken.

- Obesity. Obese people are more likely to develop spider veins and other vein disorders. 

- Sunlight. Sunlight may harm the tissues in your body that support and hold veins in place.

Diagnosis for spider veins

A spider vein doctor can inspect and diagnose your condition. Spider vein developments can occasionally be indicators of more serious vein disorders and other conditions.

Treatments for spider veins

Spider veins cannot be removed with over-the-counter or prescription medications, lotions, or gels. However, other at-home or medical therapies can help lessen or eliminate them.

Home remedies and treatments

Compression socks or stockings allow blood to flow more smoothly through your legs. Wearing them regularly may assist in preventing the development of new spider veins. These socks come in various intensities, ranging from over-the-counter light-pressure socks to prescription-strength stockings that can only be given by a doctor.

Exercising and losing weight can help avoid spider veins. Engaging the muscles in your legs helps to drive blood up through them and prevent pooling. Losing weight can also alleviate your legs of the excess downward pressure that makes it difficult for blood to flow up your veins.

Alternative therapies

A few studies have found that horse chestnut seed extract may help lessen the symptoms and growth of spider veins, but further research is needed to determine its efficacy.

Medical procedures

Laser treatment is one of the most often used spider vein elimination techniques. These treatments use a surgical-grade laser above your skin to dissolve spider veins. Depending on the extent of the spider veins, more than one laser treatment session may be required to eradicate their appearance entirely.

Sclerotherapy is another professional treatment option for spider vein removal. A tiny chemical injection is administered directly into the spider vein, causing the sides to adhere together and impede blood flow. Blood is redirected to healthy veins nearby, and the injected vein slowly fades.

Risks and side effects of spider vein treatments

Compression socks are not appropriate for everyone. If not worn properly, they can cause skin or nerve damage by exerting uneven pressure on the legs.

Laser therapy does not tear the skin, unlike sclerotherapy. However, it can cause infection, burns, bruises, bleeding, nerve damage, skin discoloration, and other side effects. Sclerotherapy carries similar hazards, including adverse reactions to the chemical injections.
Consult your vein specialist before pursuing any spider vein removal procedure to assess your risks and determine what is best for you.