Advisory Board Our Mission Advertise Patient Review
Home Overview Facial Veins Leg Veins Find a Doctor Choosing a Doctor FAQ's
Get Rid of Your
Spider Veins
 
Patient Education
Ask The Doctor
Q: How do hormonal factors contribute to the development of spider veins?
The hormones estrogen and progesterone, which fluctuate... [Read More]
Q: Do spider veins hurt?
No. But varicose veins often do. If you have any veins that... [Read More]
Q: Can spider veins return after treatment?
No. The veins you had treated won’t return. Over time,... [Read More]

What Causes Spider Veins
  • Weakened Blood Vessels
  • Who’s at Risk?
    		•

    Weakened Blood Vessels

    Arteries take oxygen-rich blood from the heart and send it throughout the body. Veins then return the blood, depleted of its oxygen, back to the heart, where the cycle starts again. Veins have small valves that keep blood from flowing backwards as it travels to the heart; If those valves weaken, however, blood leaks back into the vein, where it pools. This development—weakened valves and pooling blood, coupled with a general weakening of the veins’ walls —can lead to the enlargement (dilation) of the blood vessels.

    Spider (and varicose) veins are blood vessels that have swelled due to weakened valves and walls. As they enlarge, they become visible through the skin.

    Who’s at Risk?

    Certain factors put people at greater risk of developing spider (and varicose) veins. These factors include:

    • Gender. Slightly more women than men develop spider veins.
    • Increasing age.
    • Heredity. Twin studies suggest that a tendency toward developing spider veins may be inherited.
    • Obesity. Excess weight can weaken vein valves and walls.
    • Occupations that involve standing for long periods of time, which can also weaken a vein’s structure. Nurses, hairdressers, teachers, and certain factory workers are particularly at risk.
    • Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
    • Use of birth control pills or postmenopausal hormone therapy (or other medications containing the hormones estrogen and progesterone).
    • A history of blood clots.
    • Extended exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or from tanning beds.
    • Trauma or injury to the skin.
     Find a Spider Veins Treatment Specialist
     
     
    Videos
    Spider veins usually take 2-4 laser sessions for treatment to be effective.
    Before & After Photos
    The Patient's Guide to Spider Veins is the internet's best resource for information regarding vein treatment. Reviewed and edited by the leading researchers and dermatologists in the field of skin care, all Patient’s Guide websites are reviewed for accuracy and never "ghost-written".
    >>More About the Patient's Guide
    Patient Education: Home | Overview | Facial Veins | Leg Veins | Prevention | Varicose Veins | Laser Vein Treatment | Sclerotherapy | Intense Pulsed Light | Cost and Pricing | Choosing a Doctor | Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ's)
    Find a Doctor: Find a Spider Vein Specialist Near You | Search By City/State
    Reviews/Feedback: Write a Review | Give us Your Feedback | Terms of Use | Review Guidelines
    About Us: Patient's Guide Mission Statement | Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Statement | Advertising Policies

    The Patient’s Guide does not guarantee, endorse or recommend any of the physicians included in the Find-A-Doctor service.