What are Spider Veins, How Do You Get Them and Ways of Getting Rid of Them

Spider veins are a condition that affects women more than men. This may be attributed to the difference in lifestyles. To understand and learn how to manage this condition, it is important to know what they are, how one gets them and the natural ways through which we can deal with them at home. Below we explore these areas.

What are Spider Veins?

The heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to various body organs through the arteries. The veins are then responsible for carrying blood back to the heart for re-oxygenation. In the veins are valves that act as a one way guide for blood. This helps in preventing blood from flowing back to where it is coming from.

Where the valves are not working right, the blood pressure increases causing a lot of tension on the veins. This makes them to expand leading to the formation of spider veins which are short clusters of threadlike veins appearing on the surface of the skin. They are as a result of veins getting stretched out due to localized valve failure. 

They develop close to the skin’s surface. Their look resembles that of a spider web which could be red, purple or blue in color. The most are spider veins on legs and spider veins on the face but they can appear anywhere else on the body. 

How do You Get Spider Veins

There are a number of ways through which a person can get spider veins. These are mostly dependent on an individual’s lifestyle and include:

1. Genetics: For some people, spider veins are hereditary and run in the family. A person who comes from a family with people suffering from this condition is likely to suffer the same. For those who come from families that have members with vein problems, the risk of getting them is higher. As such, while spider veins may be preventable in some cases, in others they may not be and will only have to be dealt with when they appear.
2. Pregnancy: Expectant women tend to exert more pressure on various organs than usual. This makes them vulnerable to spider veins. They are however likely to fade away months after giving birth. These will then tend to increase with subsequent pregnancies.
3. Aging: Half of adults aged 50 years and above tend to suffer from spider veins because the valves become weak just like the other parts of the body. This makes them inefficient in carrying out their role in the circulatory system.
4. Unhealthy lifestyle trends: For people who are obese, the extra weight puts a strain on the veins. Sitting for a long time without any movement may lead to poor circulation and strain the legs. Standing in the same way also has adverse effects as there is a probability that the body weight will not be evenly spread on the legs. These end up causing formation of spider veins.
5. Exposure to sun rays: Spider veins on the face may be as a result of exposure to the sun rays. This is because the sun rays make veins lying close to the surface of the face to become weak. Prolonged exposure makes the condition to deteriorate thus making the veins more visible.

Home Remedies for Spider Veins

Since spider veins are as a result of poor blood circulation, remedies adopted should be aimed at improving it. There are a number of home remedies that one can use to take care of the condition some of which are natural. These include:

1. Taking foods rich in anti-oxidants: Antioxidants will help clean up your blood system. This way the circulation of blood will improve. Include foods rich in anti-oxidants such as grapes, apricots, and melons in your diet. These will ensure the veins remain healthy and strong.
2. Use spices: Spices such as garlic and ginger help to break down the components that build up to form spider veins. This serves to reverse the condition and restore normal circulation.
3. Apple cider vinegar: This can either be applied directly on the affected area or a piece of cloth soaked in it and then wrapped around the affected area.
4. Olive oil massage: Massages help to improve blood circulation. For the purposes of getting rid of this condition, use half a cup of hot olive oil to massage the affected area. This should be done on a daily basis.
5. Wear flat shoes: The un-natural position that heels put the legs in causes a lot of strain on them. Wearing flat shoes helps ease this pressure thus improve circulation.
6. Lose weight: People who are overweight should strive to attain their recommended weight as being overweight strains the body. Losing weight will help to ease this pressure and thus get rid of this condition.
7. Adopt the right posture: While sitting, ensure your legs are elevated. Avoid sitting for long durations at the same positions.  Sleeping on your back with legs elevated using a pillow also helps to get rid of spider veins. Change positions with time and move around when you can. Also do not cross your legs while sitting as this may affect circulation causing more spider veins.
8. Where one is required to stand for long duration, ensure that the body weight is shifted from one leg to the other within regular intervals. If possible move around to enhance circulation.
9. Regular exercise: Physical exercise such as walking and running even in the lowest intensity will help improve circulation. Adopt a regular schedule with a lot of focus on exercising the legs and stick to it.
10. Compression therapy: Properly fitting support hoses which are also known as compression stockings can help get rid of spider veins. Wearing these during the day will help improve circulation by squeezing and exerting necessary pressure on the legs.
11. Quit excessive drinking: Excessive consumption of alcohol dilates the veins. With regular drinking, this becomes permanent leading to formation of spider veins. Avoid alcohol to reverse the situation before it becomes irreversible.
12. Reduce salt intake: Too much salt causes spider veins as it increases the blood pressure. Reduce it to get rid of them.
13. Use sunscreen: To take care of spider veins on the face, use sunscreen or cover your face when venturing out to prevent agitating them.

Is Spider Vein Pain Real?

Spider veins are rarely painful. The only discomfort that one may experience is itchiness.

In most cases, spider veins are caused by poor lifestyle choices. Taking precautions aimed at ensuring that there is a free flow of blood will help prevent them. In case they occur, looking back at what may have caused them will help choose the best method of alleviating the symptoms better.

What Causes Spider Veins on Face, Legs and Thighs?

Though they pose negligible risks to the person having them, spider veins are unsightly to look at. Most people are ashamed of them. Ever wondered why some people are always wearing clothes covering their legs? These could be the reason. The causes for spider veins are varied. These are mostly dependent on which part of the body they affect.

What Causes Spider Veins?

The main cause of spider veins is inefficiency in blood circulation. There are various factors that cause this to happen and which are seen to play a major role in their development. These are as discussed below.

1. Wearing restrictive garments: People who are used to wearing garments that put pressure on the abdominal area such as girdles are likely to suffer from spider veins. This is because there is an interference with the circulation of the blood.  There is also a restrictive effect on the flow of blood from the legs. This may lead to a backflow leading to spider veins.
2. Occupational environment: Some occupations require people working in them to remain standing for a long time. This makes venous pressure in the legs to increase. When this happens for a prolonged duration, the valves are weakened by the pressure. As a result circulation of the blood is affected making the concerned person to suffer from spider veins.
3. Advanced age: With advancement in age, the body becomes weak and frail. This leads to the weakening of the valves making one vulnerable to spider veins. Another reason why aging is a cause of spider veins is the fact that repair of damaged body tissues becomes hard. Where blood capillaries are affected, there is a deficiency in pumping of blood.
4. Obesity: When people fail to watch their eating habits, it is likely that they will become overweight. This puts undue pressure on the legs and circulatory system. The valves become too weak to efficiently carry out their role. The ability of the blood to flow against gravity forces is undermined. This results to backflow of blood which causes spider veins.
5. Hormonal changes: Women are more likely to suffer from spider veins than men. This may be attributed to a number of factors. During transitions to and from stages such as puberty, menstruation and menopause, they experience a lot of hormonal changes. These then have an effect on blood pressure and the ability of the veins to pump blood.
6. Birth control pills: Taking birth control pills which have estrogen gives the same effects. These affect the flow of blood thus making women more vulnerable to spider veins.
7. Pregnancy:  This is another cause of spider veins which also depicts why women are most vulnerable. Hormonal changes during pregnancy weaken the walls of the veins. There is an increased blood volume within the body. During pregnancies, an enlargement of the uterus increases pressure on the veins below the abdomen. This leads to their dilation. As a result, there is a dysfunction of the veins leading to pooling of the blood which causes spider veins.
8. Sedentary lifestyle: This is another spider veins’ cause. When one lives a life that is inactive and free from physical activity, various body organs are affected. Wrong sitting postures also cause a strain on the blood vessels. This leads to the formation of spider veins.
9. Trauma on the skin: This may be as a result of surgical incisions on the skin making it hard for the blood veins to carry blood to the heart.
10. Wrong sitting posture: Adopting a wrong posture and crossing one’s legs increases the risk as it restricts blood flow.
11. Exposure to the sun: people who spend most of their time outdoors have been found susceptible to spider vein problems. This is because the harsh heat makes it hard for proper blood circulation. This may then lead to spider veins forming on the cheeks and nose.

What Causes Spider Veins on Legs?

The legs are the most vulnerable when it comes to formation of spider veins. A number of reasons could be attributed to this:

• Wearing tight clothing that inhibits flow of blood in the legs.
• Standing for long durations makes it hard for the veins to push blood against gravity towards the heart. This is as opposed to when a person is sitting or lying down.
• Increased circulation of blood and too much pressure on the legs during pregnancy leads to a strain on the veins. Due to this strain, a back flow is likely to occur.
• Genetic predisposition increases possibility for existence of this mal-function.
• Another spider veins cause is weight gain as this increases pressure on the veins. They may not handle their role in the circulatory system well
• Pregnancy
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Alcoholism leads to poor blood circulation in the system. Spider veins may then form on the legs as a result.

What Causes Spider Veins on the Face?

Spider veins on the face are caused by factors such as:

• Venous deficiency which may be as a result of broken capillaries resulting from hard facial scrubbing. This may be evidenced by formation of spider veins around the eyes.
• With advancement in age, repair of broken body cells takes time. If a vein is affected, there is inefficiency in the flow of blood.
• Skin diseases affecting the face lead to venous mal-functionin.
• Too much exposure to direct sunlight causes spider veins and agitates existing ones.
• Insomnia and eye strain are also spider veins’ causes on the face.
• Acne rosacea is another spider veins’ cause.

What Causes Spider Veins on the Thighs

For spider veins to appear on the thighs, they are mostly attributed to Perforator Venous Reflux Disease. This occurs when there is a perforation of the muscle leading to a perforator vein. This then inhibits the proper functioning of the veins leading to spider veins on the thigh. 

Spider veins on any part of the body are as a result of a venous inefficiency leading to back flow of blood. Poor blood circulation is then experienced. Preventing their occurrence through healthy living can help prevent those ungodly sights and keep the skin looking lovely always.

Spider Veins on legs – Causes, How to Get Rid of Them and Treatments

At times, the effects of the lifestyles we adopt are not felt immediately. The shock only strikes when there is a visible indicator of something we have been doing wrong. Understanding the causes of spider veins on legs will go a long way in ensuring that we put into place measures that will prevent us from getting them. 

Since the most common place for spider veins to form is on the legs, what should one do if they get them? What treatment options are available? Below we explore the various treatment methods and home remedies.

Spider Veins on Legs

While blood is being pumped back to the heart from various body organs, the blood vessels have to push it against the forces of gravity in most organs. This is enhanced by the presence of valves in the veins. The legs happen to be the longest distance from which the heart receives blood. It is no wonder then that there is a high likelihood for a venous mal-function to occur in the legs as a result of the pressure. 

When the valves cannot ensure that blood flows towards the direction in which the heart is, there is a back flow of blood leading to formation of a blood pool. The cause for this could be a decrease in the pressure required to carry out this function or the extra work that the veins in the legs have to do to get blood to the heart. 

All this leads to the formation of spider veins in the legs which are thread like in nature and which appear on the surface of the skin.

What Causes Spider Veins on Legs?

There are many causes of spider veins on legs. These include lifestyle causes such as being overweight, wardrobe factors such as wearing high heels, occupations requiring people to stand for a long time and general health. All these weaken the valves leading to a venous deficiency.

How to Get Rid of Spider Veins on Legs - Treatments and Creams

Getting rid of spider veins on legs can be approached from various dimensions. To deal with them, one can choose from various professional treatments, over the counter creams and home remedies.

When it comes to professional treatments, these are done by medical professionals.  One can choose a medical professional specializing in the choice they want. The methods from which to choose from include:

1. Sclerotherapy: This spider veins in legs treatment involves injecting a liquid which could either be hypertonic saline or sodium tetradecyl sulfate into the mal-functioning veins so as to make them collapse. Once they collapse they close up. This then makes the spider veins form some scar tissue which will disappear gradually with time.

The process is a short one and a single vein takes around five minutes. Time taken for all the spider veins to be treated is dependent on how many single veins are involved. The patient is not subjected to any pain and as such no anesthesia is required. Once the procedure has been completed, the patient is advised to back up the treatment by wearing compression hoses.  

Though a great process, it is not safe for people allergic to the liquids used and expectant women.

2. Laser treatment: This is another method used to treat spider veins in legs. It involves strong bursts of light being passed over the spider veins. More than one session may be required to eliminate these veins but there are no needles used or incisions made.  Compared to sclerotherapy, this method is more painful. 

A darker shade of the spider veins appears on the surface of the skin soon after the procedure. With time it fades away. This treatment may cause a temporary discoloration of the skin. 

3. Vein stripping: In this kind of treatment, long veins are removed through incisions. This has the adverse effects of affecting circulation in the legs as other veins are forced to transport a larger volume of blood.

4. Ambulatory phlebectomy: While using this method for spider veins in legs treatment, the spider veins are removed by making tiny punctures on the skin. Numbing of the skin on which pricking is being done is usually necessary.

Of all the four methods, sclerotherapy and laser treatment are the best spider veins on legs treatments as they are less intrusive on the circulatory system. They should be the ones that patients choose from for long term treatment.

 Spider Veins on Face Removal Cream

Where the spider veins are not severe, one can purchase spider vein creams from drugstores. Creams for spider veins on legs should have the following qualities:

• Have the ability to decongest clogged veins
• Made from natural ingredients
• Protect user against recurrence of the spider veins
• Increase blood flow through the veins
• Leave no scars after use
• It should also have moisturizing elements.

If one notices the spider veins in legs early enough, it is possible to mitigate their effects through various do-it-yourself techniques. There are a number of home remedies for leg spider veins. These include:

• Exercising
• Losing weight for those who are obese
• Avoiding high heels
• Sitting in the right posture
• Take breaks within long durations of sitting or standing.
• Elevate legs when sitting or lying down
• Avoid clothes that are too tight around the waist.

How to Cover Spider Veins on Legs (Hide)

Spider veins on legs can be unsightly. They can limit ones dressing as all the time one will be conscious and try to wear clothes that will cover them up. This does not have to be the case. There are various ways that can camouflage them. 

This could be by use of durable body makeup products such as those formulated to cover up things such as stretch marks and tattoos.When choosing the type of concealer to use, consider picking a color that matches the legs’ color which is not always the same as face color. 

Spider veins concealment should not be adopted for long term purposes. To get rid of spider veins permanently, see a doctor.