What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are those rather unsightly purplish veins that typically show up on legs, but can occur pretty much anywhere in the human body that contains veins, especially on the face around the nose and chin. Not to be mistaken with varicose veins, spider veins are less serious because they develop at the surface of the skin. Perhaps the best way to think of a spider vein is that it is a less severe varicose vein. Spider veins are more common than varicose veins, and they aren't as dangerous. They're a milder form of venous skin condition and are pretty common in people throughout the country. Of course, that doesn't mean that those who have spider veins want to keep them. While it's true that varicose veins occur deeper than spider veins and present more of a health hazard, spider veins are still unattractive and uncomfortable, and most people with spider veins likely want to get rid of them. Following is more information on spider veins, including causes and treatments.
What do they look like?
Aptly named, spider veins often take the appearance of spider webs, as they branch out most commonly over legs and on the face around the nose, cheeks, and chin. They're not as large or bulging as varicose veins, and the individual veins appear less bulky. The overall area of a spider vein, however, can be pretty sizable, especially if they're left untreated and continue to grow.
What are the causes?
Spider veins in New Jersey are pretty common although many people think they occur due to aging, the fact is that spider veins have several causes besides a person's age. These include obesity, heredity, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and prolonged sitting or standing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 50 percent of all women and as much as 45 percent of men in the United States have spider veins. Additionally, anything that significantly increases the pressure on the abdominal area over a long period of time as well as anything that contributes to poor blood circulation can cause the development of spider veins.
What are the treatments?
Spider veins typically are not serious. They generally don't present the health risks that the more serious venous problem of varicose veins. However, because they're not attractive, many people would like to diminish or eliminate the appearance of spider veins. The most common treatments for spider veins include compression stockings, weight loss, exercise, Sclerotherapy, and laser surgery. Compression stockings are effective for many patients who have spider veins because they help to support weak veins. They provide extra pressure to the veins that keep blood flowing against gravity, which keeps blood from pooling. Of course, weight loss and exercise are helpful at reducing spider veins because they help to get blood circulating better throughout the body and take pressure off the legs. Sclerotherapy is one of the most established medical forms of treatment for spider veins. In this therapy, a saline solution is injected into the vein, causing it to collapse and fade over a period of up to six weeks. Sclerotherapy is generally inexpensive, safe, and effective. Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is another, highly effective medical treatment for spider veins that has become extremely popular in the U.S. In this procedure, an emitter is inserted into the vein as a laser destroys it.
What should I expect post-treatment?
Following most medical treatments for spider veins, patients are advised to wear support hose to help the affected areas heal with proper blood flowing to them. Patients typically are advised to exercise and lose weight, if obesity was the suspected cause.
Spider veins aren't serious. In fact, they're one of the most common skin conditions in the country. Additionally, they don't present the level of threat to health that varicose veins do. Of course, that doesn't mean that those who have spider veins want to keep them. If you have spider veins, especially if they interfere with your ability to wear the clothes you like, chances are you've been looking for methods of eliminating them.
What do they look like?
Aptly named, spider veins often take the appearance of spider webs, as they branch out most commonly over legs and on the face around the nose, cheeks, and chin. They're not as large or bulging as varicose veins, and the individual veins appear less bulky. The overall area of a spider vein, however, can be pretty sizable, especially if they're left untreated and continue to grow.
What are the causes?
Spider veins in New Jersey are pretty common although many people think they occur due to aging, the fact is that spider veins have several causes besides a person's age. These include obesity, heredity, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and prolonged sitting or standing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 50 percent of all women and as much as 45 percent of men in the United States have spider veins. Additionally, anything that significantly increases the pressure on the abdominal area over a long period of time as well as anything that contributes to poor blood circulation can cause the development of spider veins.
What are the treatments?
Spider veins typically are not serious. They generally don't present the health risks that the more serious venous problem of varicose veins. However, because they're not attractive, many people would like to diminish or eliminate the appearance of spider veins. The most common treatments for spider veins include compression stockings, weight loss, exercise, Sclerotherapy, and laser surgery. Compression stockings are effective for many patients who have spider veins because they help to support weak veins. They provide extra pressure to the veins that keep blood flowing against gravity, which keeps blood from pooling. Of course, weight loss and exercise are helpful at reducing spider veins because they help to get blood circulating better throughout the body and take pressure off the legs. Sclerotherapy is one of the most established medical forms of treatment for spider veins. In this therapy, a saline solution is injected into the vein, causing it to collapse and fade over a period of up to six weeks. Sclerotherapy is generally inexpensive, safe, and effective. Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is another, highly effective medical treatment for spider veins that has become extremely popular in the U.S. In this procedure, an emitter is inserted into the vein as a laser destroys it.
What should I expect post-treatment?
Following most medical treatments for spider veins, patients are advised to wear support hose to help the affected areas heal with proper blood flowing to them. Patients typically are advised to exercise and lose weight, if obesity was the suspected cause.
Spider veins aren't serious. In fact, they're one of the most common skin conditions in the country. Additionally, they don't present the level of threat to health that varicose veins do. Of course, that doesn't mean that those who have spider veins want to keep them. If you have spider veins, especially if they interfere with your ability to wear the clothes you like, chances are you've been looking for methods of eliminating them.