Spider Veins

No. Spider veins will not worsen into the condition known as varicose veins. In other words, spider veins do not cause varicose veins. That said, people who are prone to developing spider veins may also be likely to develop varicose veins.

There are some risk factors that increase your chances of developing spider veins. Having these risk factors does not mean you will develop spider veins, but it increases the likelihood that you might.

You may have an increased risk of developing spider veins if one or more of the following apply to you:

• Family History of Spider Veins: If other members of your family, such as a parent or sibling, have spider veins, you are more likely to develop spider veins, as well.
• Obesity: Carrying extra weight and being obese increases the pressure in the veins in the legs, elevating the risk of blood pooling to occur in the veins.
• Standing, sitting for long periods of time: Those who sit or stand for long periods of time may develop spider veins due to the added pressure within the veins of the legs.
• Age:The older you are, the higher the chance you will develop spider veins. Your veins become stiffer and less flexible with age, which can impair the proper functioning of the valves in your veins.
• Being female: Women are more likely to develop varicose veins due to hormone fluctuations during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

The procedure most often recommended to treat spider veins is sclerotherapy. This involves injecting a chemical substance, a sclerosant, into the spider vein to shut it down. It is eventually resorbed by the body. There are several ways we can perform this convenient procedure right here in the offices of Edward G. Mackay and Associates, LLC.

For more information, see our Spider Vein Treatments page.

It may take several weeks to see the results of a spider vein treatment session. This can vary, depending on how many spider veins are present and how many spider vein treatments are needed. Because of how the treatment works, it takes the body time to react to the treated vein and begin reabsorption, which is why it can take weeks to notice a difference after a spider vein treatment.

The majority of people achieve their desired results after four treatment sessions, performed about 6 weeks apart – although the number of sessions you require will vary, depending on the number of spider veins to be addressed. Ideally, after all treatment sessions are concluded, all of your spider veins should no longer be visible.

While spider veins are easily treated, the condition can recur – especially if you are predisposed to developing spider veins.

In many cases, spider veins occur in people who are genetically prone to developing the condition. Even so, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent – or at least delay – the development of spider veins. These include:

• Low-impact exercise: Performing low-impact exercises, such as walking, swimming, or biking at least 3 or 4 days per week allows your muscles to regularly squeeze blood through your blood vessels. Regular low-impact exercise is also a great way to lose weight and reduce pressure in the veins of your legs. It’s important to note that high-impact exercises can worsen spider veins by increasing pressure within the veins.
• Leg elevation: Elevating your legs at the end of the day aids normal circulation by helping to move blood from the veins of the legs and toward the heart.
• Change position regularly: If you sit or stand for long periods of time, attempt to move more throughout the day. Try to step away at least twice every hour to walk in order to improve circulation in the legs. You can also perform foot pumps or calf raises to help squeeze the blood out of the legs with the contraction of the muscles.