Understanding Spider Veins
Effective treatment that resolves symptoms and restores a more confident appearance.
Spider veins are one of the most common vein-related conditions for women 50 and older.
With nearly 55% of women and 45% of men having some vein disease, spider veins are a common sight.
They can affect your self-esteem and emotional and physical well-being, especially if they cause an extensive weblike appearance or lead to chronic symptoms, such as itching, pain, or heaviness in your legs.
The good news is that our team of venous experts at Texas Endovascular can help reduce the appearance of spider veins right in our Houston or Dallas office without requiring extensive surgeries or long-term recovery times.
Our state-of-the-art personalized treatment plans provide the specialized support and care you need to get rid of spider veins for good.
Whether they bother you because of their appearance or affect your health, removing spider veins is what we do, and we are here to help you through it.
Let’s discuss spider veins in more detail, including symptoms, risk factors, and offered treatment options.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are enlarged, twisted veins that appear on the calves and thighs in a recognizable weblike appearance.
Any vein near the skin’s surface can become classified as a spider vein if it begins to transport blood improperly.
They often appear with a blueish-purple hue and are widespread in areas behind the knees and ankles.
Spider Vein Causes
Spider veins occur when healthy veins become overfilled with blood due to poor circulation.
Our veins work by returning blood from the body to the heart. To return blood to the heart effectively, the veins in the legs must be strong enough to work against gravity.
In a healthy vein, as the blood flows back to the heart, the vein valves open and close to stop blood from flowing in the wrong direction.
When vein valves become weakened or damaged, blood begins to flow backward and pool in the lower leg veins causing increased pressure that makes them stretch and twist, giving off their spider web-like appearance just below the skin’s surface.
Spider Vein Symptoms
Many people living with spider veins do not experience debilitating symptoms.
The most obvious first symptom of spider veins is a weblike cluster of blueish purple veins.
For those with more extensive spider veins, symptoms may include:
- An aching or heavy feeling in the legs
- A burning sensation
- Muscle cramping
- Swelling, especially in the lower legs
- Increased leg pain after long periods of sitting or standing
- Itching around the affected veins
- Changes in skin color and texture around the affected area
Spider Vein Risk Factors
Anyone at any time can develop spider veins. While sometimes the reason for developing them is unknown, there are specific factors that increase your risk.
Those at increased risk of developing spider veins include:
- Pregnant women
- Women in menopause
- Those who are overweight or obese
- Those who stand or sit for long periods
- People with a family history of varicose veins and other venous disorders
- Those aged 50 and older
- Women
Spider Vein Treatments Options
Our interventional radiologists offer a wide range of treatments for spider veins.
During your initial consultation, our physicians will discuss treatment options with you and determine which methods will work best to treat your specific condition.
The most common minimally invasive treatment options include:
Other options include:
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Radiofrequency perforator ablation
- Ambulatory phlebectomy (varicose vein removal)
- Varicocele embolization
What Can You Do to Prevent Spider Veins?
Although spider veins are not entirely preventable, some steps our patients can take to reduce their risk of developing spider veins include:
- Wearing sunscreen regularly
- Exercising consistently and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce pressure on the veins in your legs
- Taking breaks from either sitting or standing for long periods
- Limiting the amount of time you wear high heels or shoes with steep inclines
Spider Vein Treatment in Houston and Dallas
You don’t have to live with spider veins.
We are here to help eliminate spider veins through advanced treatment that won’t require extensive surgery or a hospital stay.
It is important to note that intervening early helps prevent the escalation of pain, progression of symptoms, and worsening in appearance.
Texas Endovascular provides the most advanced and minimally invasive vein treatments for the Greater Houston and Dallas area. Our vein specialists are experienced in caring for spider veins and other common and complex vein diseases.
To learn more about spider vein treatment or to schedule a consultation, contact us today.
