Spider veins are one of the most common types of visible veins, but while they are completely natural, not everyone will get them. In fact, in the United States, 20% of men and 15% of women, on average, will never experience spider veins. Wondering why you happen to be one of the 80-85% who do have spider veins? While it would be nice to have a simple, straightforward answer, the reality is anything but that. The root cause of spider veins is simply damaged blood valves, but there are a host of factors that come together to increase the risk of valves becoming damaged in the first place and any one of those factors may also be modified by genetics.
The Role of Valves in Visible Veins
One of the most common types of visible veins, spider veins are small, superficial veins located between the inner and outer layers of skin. Spider veins often appear thin, in a web-like pattern, and blue or purple in color. They commonly appear on the legs but can certainly develop in other areas of the body depending on blood circulation, which is, after all, the root cause of both these visible veins and varicose veins. Spider veins are the effect of a damaged blood valve. Generally speaking, in a typical, healthy body, the heart is responsible for pumping blood through the entire body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells through blood vessels. Starting from the heart, blood circulates outward to the legs, arms, and head via arteries and is pumped back to the heart via veins
Contributing Factors Raising Your Risk of Spider Veins
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Hormones
- Sun Exposure
- Inactivity
- Genetics
How to Treat Spider Veins
Powered by Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, Venus Versa™ photofacial treatments can effectively reduce the appearance of spider veins. Targeting pigment under the skin’s surface, within the vein itself, these photofacial treatments deliver thermal (heat) energy, causing superficial spider veins to contract, scar over, and fade. With a customized plan, photofacial treatments may be adapted to suit your needs.