Spider Veins Specialist

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are damaged veins that look like thin, flat, red or purple lines. They may form on your legs, although you might also find them on your face or elsewhere on your body. Spider veins aren’t usually painful, though they’re a sign of vascular disease and venous insufficiency. 

What causes spider veins?

Like varicose veins, spider veins form when weakness in your vein valves prevent blood from flowing efficiently back to your heart, and it instead pools in the weakened portions of your veins.

Some of the risk factors for spider veins include:

• Family history of spider veins or varicose veins
• Being overweight or obese
• Pregnancy
• Aging
• Sitting or standing in the same position for a long time
• Previous blood clot or vein damage
• Hormones
• Sun damage

If you’re concerned about spider veins, call Cardiac Center of Texas to schedule a consultation and learn about your treatment options.

How are spider veins treated?

The vascular specialists at Cardiac Center of Texas usually recommend sclerotherapy as an effective treatment for spider veins. Your surgeon injects a chemical known as a sclerosant into your vein, which causes it to seal, collapse, and disappear. Sclerotherapy is considered the “gold standard” to erase spider veins.

The procedure is well-tolerated by most patients, though you might feel extra sensation if you have veins treated in the backs of the knees and ankles. Spider vein removal typically takes three to six treatments with treatment sessions typically scheduled four to eight weeks apart.

Can I prevent spider veins?

While you may be genetically inclined to develop spider veins, you can take steps to reduce the lifestyle factors that contribute to spider vein development. For example, you can exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise keeps your cardiovascular system healthy, and watching your weight reduces the pressure on the veins in your legs. 

Additionally, if you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, wear compression socks to support healthy circulation. Alternatively, if you sit all day, get up and walk around once an hour. 

If you want to get rid of your spider veins, call Cardiac Center of Texas or make an appointment online today.