Spider veins are those small red or purple, twisty lines on your face, thighs, or calves. They are generally harmless, although some people report itching or minor pain in the area. Between 30% and 60% of all people will develop them as they grow older, women more often than men.
What Causes Spider Veins
Anything that causes increased pressure in the legs, such as being overweight or standing on your feet much of the time, increases the chances of developing spider veins. So if you’re a nurse, a server, a flight attendant, a cashier, or a hair stylist, you are likely to have them. Women’s hormones have a lot to do with their onset. Pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills, and hormone replacement therapy can all precipitate spider veins in the legs. And, of course, if your mother had them, there’s a good chance that you will have them, too.
How a Veins Specialist Doctor Can Help
So now you have these ugly purplish blue, spidery marks on your legs. What can you do about them? There are a few alternatives. You can wear support stockings, which really don’t do much except prevent unsightly veins, especially varicose veins, from getting worse. You can try losing weight and exercise, especially walking, both of which help. Or you can see a veins specialist doctor.
This physician can help you get rid of those ugly veins permanently. A procedure called sclerotherapy is usually very effective. It is done in an outpatient clinic. The specialist injects a solution, usually salt water or a special detergent, into the veins. This scars the tiny veins and causes them to disappear over the next three to five weeks. Most insurance companies will not cover spider vein removal, but sclerotherapy is usually inexpensive.
