Twisting, turning, discolored and uncomfortable - spider and varicose veins are a painful, and at the very least, uncomfortable condition that an estimated 30% to 60% of adults deal with - according to WebMD. There's many ways you can develop spider and varicose veins, and they usually show up in your legs.
Varicose veins are often painful, but not always. You can spot them as twisting and bulging veins deep in the skin that are a dark blue or purple color. You can normally find them in the legs, but spider veins you find in the legs and sometimes the face as well. Spider veins are similar to varicose veins - they can also be painful but they're found much closer to the surface and they're smaller. Spider veins are also usually red or blue rather than deep purple or blue.
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Causes
Spider and varicose veins are caused by a number of things according to WebMD, including:
- Heredity
- Occupations that involve a lot of standing like: hair stylists, nurses, teachers, factory workers etc.
- Obesity
- Hormonal influences like pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
- The use of birth control pills
- Postmenopausal hormonal replacement
- A history of blood clots
- Conditions that cause increased pressure in the abdomen, such as tumors,constipation, and externally worn garments like girdles.
- Occupations that involve a lot of standing like: hair stylists, nurses, teachers, factory workers etc.
- Obesity
- Hormonal influences like pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
- The use of birth control pills
- Postmenopausal hormonal replacement
- A history of blood clots
- Conditions that cause increased pressure in the abdomen, such as tumors,constipation, and externally worn garments like girdles.
Symptoms of varicose and spider veins
When looking for spider and varicose veins the Mayo Clinic says you should look out for:
- Veins that are dark purple or blue in color (vericose)
- Veins that are close to the surface and are red, or blue in color
- Veins that appear twisted and bulging; often like cords on your legs
- Veins that are close to the surface and are red, or blue in color
- Veins that appear twisted and bulging; often like cords on your legs
You might also experience pain, which can be described as:
- Ach, or heavy feeling in your legs
- Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs
- Increased pain after sitting or standing for a long period of time
- An itch around your veins
- Bleeding from varicose veins
- Red discoloration of the skin, and pain in the vein
- Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs
- Increased pain after sitting or standing for a long period of time
- An itch around your veins
- Bleeding from varicose veins
- Red discoloration of the skin, and pain in the vein
When in pain you might experience more serious symptoms like:
- Vein color changes
- A hardening of the vein
- Your skin might inflame
- And you could also develop ulcers near your ankle
- A hardening of the vein
- Your skin might inflame
- And you could also develop ulcers near your ankle
All of these symptoms could point to a serious form of vascular disease like blood clot, and if you recognize these symptoms you need to see medical attention right away.
Treating varicose & spider veins
There's not one right way to treat varicose and spider veins because it often depends on how, or why you developed them in the first place. But WebMD says some popular treatments include:
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- Losing weight
- Lifestyle changes like not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding extended periods of standing or sitting
- Sclerotherapy, which injects a detergent into the vein that eventually makes it disappear
- Laser treatment to make the vein disappear
- Radiofrequency occlusion which inserts a catheter into the vein that makes it collapse and disappear
- Surgical removal
- Lifestyle changes like not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding extended periods of standing or sitting
- Sclerotherapy, which injects a detergent into the vein that eventually makes it disappear
- Laser treatment to make the vein disappear
- Radiofrequency occlusion which inserts a catheter into the vein that makes it collapse and disappear
- Surgical removal