Do you have spider veins? You’re not alone.
A few years back, out of 1566 people who were studied by researchers, it was found that 84% had spider veins.
Spider veins, also called telangiectasia, are enlarged blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Though they can develop anywhere, they are commonly seen on the face, around the nose, cheeks, and chin, and on the legs, especially on the upper thigh, below the knee, and on the ankles. Spider veins are a benign condition with the only negative effect being to a person’s self-esteem. Most people consider them a blemish they would like to avoid or treat. Because of their commonness, doctors have devised a number of ways to deal with spider veins.
Spider veins are blood vessels that have enlarged for any one of a number of reasons. They appear as fine lines radiating out from a center cluster, resembling a spider with many legs. They differ from varicose veins mainly in that they are not palpable, meaning they don’t noticeably raise up from the surface of the skin.
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Spider veins are clusters of fine lines radiating out from a feeder vein. They sort of resemble a many-legged spider. They are related to varicose veins and share some of the same treatments, but while varicose veins are raised up from the surface of the skin, spider veins remain under it. These dark lines are often more visible in people with fair skin and may accompany other conditions like rosacea.
Spider veins may be caused by many different things. Some of these causes are congenital with other conditions, but most people develop them as an acquired condition. The biggest factor in developing spider veins is age. While they may show up at any age, usually the first occurrence of them begins between 18 and 35 and peaking between 50 and 60 years of age. Gender is another important factor in who gets spider veins.
Women are up to four times as likely to develop spider veins as men, with pregnancy often being a cause for them. Besides these unavoidable reasons, a large contributor to these dilated veins is spending a lot of time either sitting and standing. People with desk jobs are very susceptible to developing this condition.
Treatments for Spider Veins
There are several different treatments for spider veins. Some of these treatments are:
- Foam sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser treatment
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Open surgery
Laser treatment is often chosen for spider veins on the face. This method uses light to seal off the veins causing them to be absorbed back into the surrounding tissue. Radiofrequency ablation is similar to this method but uses microwaves to achieve the effect. Open surgery involves actually removing the offending blood vessels. The most common and preferable treatment, however, is sclerotherapy. In sclerotherapy, a medication is injected into the spider veins, which causes the vessel walls to immediately harden. They then shrink and over a period of weeks as the body absorbs the treated vein. This method is popular because it is very precise and it seals off the trouble vessel, making the spider veins more unlikely to reoccur than with other treatments.
How to Avoid Spider Veins
Often, a person will develop spider veins through no fault of their own. However, some lifestyle factors contribute to their development. Sitting or standing for long periods of time are known to contribute to enlarged blood vessels. So too, is high blood pressure. Incorporating breaks and taking the time to move about and stretch can help keep the condition from starting. Also, addressing cardiovascular issues, in addition to improving health overall, will reduce the likelihood of developing spider veins.
Among those at high risk for developing spider veins, women are the most susceptible. Nearly every woman over the age of fifty shows some signs of them. It is not a disease or condition caused by any specific thing, but a natural tendency of blood vessels to widen in response to increased pressure. As such, doctors have become very good at treating spider veins.
Spider veins are an aesthetic blemish which almost everyone will encounter at some point in their lives. It does not usually cause any other problems than self-confidence issues. If you are bothered by them, a visit to Satori Laser will definitely be able to help you. We treat spider veins and also conduct other cosmetic procedures. You should not feel you must resign yourself to having the condition if it causes you distress.