Spider Veins Causes

In the human body, veins carry blood from the organs to the heart. Sometimes, blood accumulates in the veins, due to poor circulation. In such cases, the walls of the veins expand, thereby causing bulging. Such bulged veins can be either the big ones or the small superficial ones. The bigger ones can be seen distinctly and can also be felt by touching. But, the smaller ones are often seen as a network of thin blue, red or purple-colored threads. While, the bigger bulging veins are called varicose veins, the thinner ones are called spider veins. Spider veins are formed as a result of blood pooling in the superficial veins.

More About Spider Veins

This condition is often viewed as a milder version of varicose veins. While varicose veins is a comparatively serious condition that can cause some severe symptoms, spider veins are not found to cause any such symptoms. In most cases, spider veins do not cause any symptoms, but, some of the affected people may experience pain, leg cramps and itching. However, treatment is sought by those, who take it as a cosmetic issue. As mentioned above, both varicose veins and spider veins are normally visible, but, the former are larger in size with a diameter of around 4mm, whereas the latter has a maximum girth 2 mm only.

Spider veins are usually found as a network of small thread-like veins that form a webbing. This condition is also known as spider telangiectasia, spider angioma, sunburst varicosities, broken capillaries and thread veins. It is mostly found in adults, especially women. The most common areas that develop spider veins are face and legs, especially, the upper thighs and around the ankles.

What Causes Spider Veins

As mentioned above, poor blood circulation in the veins leads to spider veins. However, the exact cause for the condition is still not understood fully. It is said that the poor blood circulation in the veins causes accumulation of blood in these blood vessels, causing bulging. This may be due to faulty valves in the veins or due to weakness of the walls of these blood vessels. In some people, obstruction in the veins (like blood clots) and swelling of veins (phlebitis), may lead to spider veins. Even congenital abnormalities of the veins can be one of the causes of spider veins. There are various conditions that can predispose a person to spider veins causes.

Aging and heredity are found to be the most common causes of spider veins. Apart from that, hormonal changes, especially in women, can be a cause for spider veins. Such hormonal changes occur during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause. Use of birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can be one of the factors that can lead to spider veins. Other such factors include obesity and jobs that require standing for very long times. Even regular sun exposure and alcohol consumption may lead to spider veins.

Facial spider veins causes include rosacea, that can be triggered by various factors like, use of alcohol, spicy foods and exposure to sunlight. Other causes of spider veins on face include long term use of steroid creams on face and outdoor work for a prolonged period. Causes for spider veins on legs include obesity, standing for longer periods, pregnancy and leg injury. In some people, the condition may develop on the chest, due to chest bruise, chronic cough and cirrhosis of the liver.

This condition is usually treated with laser treatment or causes or sclerotherapy. Now, you have a basic understanding about spider veins causes and treatment. You may also resort to various natural remedies for remedying the condition, if detected during the very onset.