If you are one of the many Americans currently suffering from spider veins, you are probably also aware that, for the most part, they are more of a nuisance than an actual danger to your body.
In an overwhelming majority of cases, you are more than fine leaving your spider veins untreated, so long as you can handle the occasional itching, burning, and swelling.
However, leaving these veins untreated can, very rarely, lead to disastrous results—beyond the normal issues you’ve most likely already come to expect.
We’re vein professionals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in the years since we opened our practice, we’ve had many people ask us when spider veins get dangerous, or when you should be concerned about spider veins.
In this article, we’re going to lay out exactly what spider veins are, when you should be concerned, and what you can do to solve your spider vein problem once and for all.
What are spider veins?
Spider veins are small veins just under the surface of the skin that look vaguely like spider webs — hence the name “spider veins.”
Why do spider veins actually occur? Your veins are filled with valves, which allow blood to course through your body. When one of these valves fails or is damaged, it causes blood to pool in the vein. This pooling blood causes the vein to enlarge, making it visible on the surface of the skin.
Spider veins can occur all around the body, but their most common location by far is on the legs. People may also discover spider veins on their face (in particular near their nose), on their hands, or on their chest.
Numerous factors can cause spider veins. Some people are simply predisposed to spider veins, while others develop spider veins as a consequence of things like pregnancy or poor diet. Women are also more likely to have spider veins, which can be attributed to hormonal changes.
When are spider veins dangerous?
For the most part, your spider veins are not dangerous.
That said, untreated spider veins can lead to varicose veins, which can in turn generate a host of issues.
Varicose veins have a wide variety of issues that can lead to long-term consequences.
For example, varicose veins are particularly prone to cuts and scrapes. Once a varicose vein starts bleeding, it can be difficult to get it to stop. Additionally, the cut can scab over, making it easy to reopen the wound.
Furthermore, untreated varicose veins can lead to blood clots. Some of these blood clots are merely superficial, while others can lead to more serious issues like deep vein thrombosis.
If you notice that your spider veins are growing, or if you notice anything out of the ordinary with your spider veins, talk to a vein specialist. Your specialist will be able to sort out any potential issues and their possible solutions.
How can I get rid of my spider veins?
There are several ways to prevent the development of spider veins, and get rid of the spider veins you have.
First, prevention. Once you have a spider vein it will not go away by itself, but several behavioral changes can be made to ensure that those spider veins won’t continue to spread.
Exercise can do wonders for spider vein prevention. Quitting smoking will also lower the risk of further spider vein development, and eating a better diet will further lessen the possibility that you will develop additional spider veins.
However, once you have spider veins, the only option to remove them is vein treatment.
Vein treatment is a term used to describe several procedures that eliminate spider veins. When you talk to a vein professional like the ones at our Milwaukee, Wisconsin clinic, they will work with you to find a solution for your exact vein issues. Treatment is generally quick, with most patients able to return to their job or other activities on the very same day.
If you are interested in vein treatment, get in touch via our contact form.