When one thinks of varicose veins, they generally think of bulging veins protruding from the legs.
In most cases, this is an accurate representation of varicose veins. A majority of what everyday people understand as “varicose veins” are found on the leg, and while they can be found elsewhere, the majority of people seeking varicose vein treatment are interested in treating the veins on their legs.
However, any vein can become a varicose vein. We’re practicing vein experts in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and in our practice, we’ve helped people from all around Wisconsin solve varicose vein issues on many different parts of the body.
In this piece, we’ll lay out the many places varicose veins can occur and, importantly, what can be done about them.
Varicose and Spider Veins on Legs
Naturally, every conversation about varicose veins should begin with where they are most commonly found — the legs.
The reason why varicose veins tend to occur in the legs is simple. In short, as creatures that walk on two legs, us humans use our legs a lot. Because of this, our legs are put under a lot of pressure in the body, and with inactivity or pregnancy, the pressure put on the legs may be too much for your veins to handle.
If this occurs, one’s vein valves can collapse, causing blood to pool within the vein. This can give the vein an enlarged appearance and make it protrude from the skin — becoming a varicose vein.
That said, when most people imagine this happening to their legs, they generally picture the varicose veins on the calf or thigh. While this is possible, varicose veins can also appear in other places, including the foot and further areas around the leg.
If a varicose vein occurs in one of these areas, don’t be alarmed — it’s perfectly normal and, in most cases, safe. But if the vein begins to cause discomfort, it’s advisable to seek vein treatment.
Varicose and Spider Veins on Face
As we’ve covered in a previous post, it is possible and even common for one to find spider veins developing on their face.
There are a few reasons for this. First is simply age; as a person gets older, their vein valves weaken, making it more likely for small veins to appear around their face. This tends to happen most often around the nose.
Another trait that may influence the development of facial spider veins is lifestyle. Living a high stress life, eschewing exercise, smoking, and more have all been tied to the development of spider veins on the face. Similarly, if one lives a life that involves a lot of exposure to the sun and wears little sun protection, they are more likely to develop facial spider veins.
Other factors, such as eczema and rosacea, may also cause facial veins to become more visible.
Varicose and Spider Veins on Hands
As one gets older, they may notice that the veins on their hands are becoming more visible. This is totally normal and expected with age.
Some may not be welcoming of their newly-visible hand veins. For those people, treatment is absolutely possible, though resolving the issue as soon as the veins appear is more advisable than waiting.
Varicose and Spider Veins on Chest
Developing spider veins on the chest is more common than one might think.
Often, these veins are simply the result of genetics, though there are some other issues that may lead one to develop spider veins on their chest or around their breasts. For example, spider veins can form on the chest as a result of rapid weight loss, strenuous exercise, or following a breast augmentation procedure.
How Do I Lose My Spider or Varicose Veins?
While there are many ways to prevent varicose and spider veins — we’ve touched on the topic throughout our website, but you can find more information here — once a varicose or spider vein has developed, there is no way for it to go away on its own.
That’s why treatment is the best option for resolving your varicose and spider vein related issues.
At our Milwaukee-based clinic, we’ll work with you to assess your specific needs and identify the best treatment for your veins. Treatment is safe and quick; most of our clients can even return to work or their everyday lives on the very same day!
If you’re interested in finally solving your varicose and spider vein issues, get in touch with us via our contact page.