About Spider Veins
Spider veins are a mild type of varicose veins—enlarged or twisted veins that are visible through the skin surface as sunbursts or spider webs, usually on the legs or feet.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of spider veins, along with preventative steps, and the treatments we offer to help reduce their appearance.
Causes of Spider Veins
Like varicose veins, spider veins are caused by increased blood pressure in the superficial veins. While they aren’t considered a serious medical condition, spider veins can cause discomfort or embarrassment since they may be very noticeable.
Signs & Symptoms of Spider Veins
The most obvious symptom of spider veins is the appearance of thin, sunburst- or spider web-like red veins that are visible through the skin. Additional symptoms of spider veins or more serious varicose veins may include:
- Color changes in the skin
- Sores on the legs
- Rash
- Feelings of heaviness, burning, or aching in the legs
Risk Factors for Spider Veins
Several risk factors can increase your chances of developing spider or varicose veins:
- Family history of spider or varicose veins
- History of blood clots
- Overweight or obesity
- Older age
- Sedentary lifestyle or prolonged standing
- Leg injury
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Using oral contraceptive pills or hormone replacement
Prevention of Spider Veins
While there are some causes (like pregnancy or genetics that may be unavoidable) there are some prevention measures you can take:
- Regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoid crossing legs
- Wear compression socks
Treatment of Spider Veins
Most cases of spider veins are not serious, but you might seek treatment for cosmetic reasons or to alleviate any discomfort they may cause. Call your physician if the spider or varicose veins make walking or standing uncomfortable or if you experience swelling or bleeding.
At Vascular & Interventional Specialists, we provide non-invasive treatment for spider veins using subcutaneous injections that eliminate swollen or painful veins. This procedure, called sclerotherapy, involves the injection of a solution directly into the spider veins that causes them to collapse and disappear.
Contact a doctor if...
While spider veins usually don’t co-occur with blood clotting disorders such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which affects the deep veins of the legs, you should be aware of signs of blood clots that could indicate a more serious medical issue. These include pain, swelling, and redness of the leg. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a blood clot
Dr. Neal Khurana
Dr. Neal Khurana specializes in treatment and care for chronic venous disease. He is a board-certified and fellowship-trained interventional radiologist experienced in a variety of conditions and endovascular treatments.
Contact us or call 605-217-5617 to schedule an appointment.
Next Steps
VIS is here to help. If you are at risk for aortic disease or have experienced one or more of the signs & symptoms, please reach out to schedule a screening. We’ll walk this journey with you.
