Look as Healthy as You Feel
Veins carry blood to the heart, and contain valves to keep the blood from flowing backwards. If those valves become weakened or damaged (also called venous insufficiency), blood can pool inside the vein, causing it to “branch out” and present as spider veins. Typically, spider veins become most visible through the skin on the legs and face. While not harmful they can feel unattractive, and you may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.
Spider veins usually cause little or no discomfort. Risk factors for developing these unsightly veins include age, gender (more commonly in women), personal or family history of vein problems, hormonal changes (including puberty, pregnancy and menopause), obesity, lack of movement (sitting or standing for extended periods of time), excess pressure on the face (coughing, sneezing and vomiting can make this more likely), previous damage to the veins or blood clots, and sun damage.
There are several therapies available to treat your spider veins. These include laser therapy, which works well on some of the small veins located close to the skin’s surface, and sclerotherapy, an injection therapy often used to treat leg veins. Depending on the location and size of the area being treated, your Advanced Dermatology provider will select the optimal treatment plan for you.