Spider veins on your legs and face can cause you to feel self-conscious. While they are rarely dangerous, these weblike patches can make you feel less confident and avoid the active lifestyle you once enjoyed. Fortunately, we can help you get rid of your spider veins and back to living the life you love.
Our vascular specialists use non-invasive techniques to treat your spider veins and have you back on your feet the same day. Spider veins are the result of damaged veins resulting in discolored patches on your skin. They can be caused by a variety of factors including your age and sex. They may be preventable through exercise and weight loss.
Spider Vein Treatment in Evansville, Indiana
Our region has a number of vein doctors to choose from. However, not all of them have a team of vascular surgeons to supervise your spider vein removal. We provide the safest and most professional environment possible. This means that you can rest easy from your evaluation through recovery knowing that you’re in good hands.
Our vascular specialists include Dr. Chandra S. Cherukupalli, Dr. Prasad V. Gade, Dr. Angela H Martin, and Dr. Donald E Patterson. Your team will begin with an ultrasound to check for any underlying conditions that may be causing your spider veins. This reduces the risk of them returning and provides you with better overall health. Once any underlying conditions have been addressed, it’s time to begin your vein treatment.
Our vascular specialists prefer non-invasive treatments whenever possible. In this case, they use laser vein treatment to alleviate your symptoms and treat spider veins at their source. For this method, the lining of the vein is heated, causing it to collapse and be absorbed into your body. A needle may be inserted to inject a solution into the vein in some cases.
These methods provide you with plenty of benefits, including:
- Effective vein removal
- Treatment in an in-office setting
- No time in the hospital
- Treatment in less than 30 minutes
- Resuming regular activities immediately
- Effective for all skin types
A stinging sensation may occur during treatment, but it is only temporary. You may require more than one treatment session depending on the severity of your condition.
Check out our Spider Veins page to learn more about treatment!
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are tiny veins that have been damaged and can appear anywhere on your body, but are often associated with the legs. These veins often appear as lines forming webs, branches, or patches of visible veins on your skin. They usually aren’t dangerous, but you may be embarrassed by the visible blue, red, and purple veins.
While they share some similarities due to being venous insufficiencies, there are some key differences between spider veins and varicose veins. Spider veins are very shallow veins that are often painless. Varicose veins, on the other hand, are much larger and deeper. They often appear as bulging and discolored veins that cause:
- Pain
- Itching
- Legs that feel heavy
- Swollen legs and ankles
- An increased risk of blood clots
Read our blog What Causes Varicose Veins and What Can I Do About Them? to learn more about varicose veins.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Spider veins can occur for different reasons. Like varicose veins, spider veins on your legs occur when the veins stop functioning correctly. Healthy veins pump blood to your heart using one-way valves that prevent blood from being pulled down by gravity. When they become damaged, blood pools in your veins and causes bulging spider veins.
Facial spider veins are caused by broken blood vessels underneath the skin. These blood vessels on the face occur when they become enlarged (dilated) just below the top layer of skin. This causes the web pattern of small, red lines that can cause you to feel self-conscious. While they can occur anywhere, most people develop spider veins on the face and legs.
Risk Factors
Spider veins can develop for a number of reasons, including:
- Genetics
- Pregnancy
- Prolonged sun exposure
- Rosacea
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Injury
- Sneezing or vomiting
- Hot weather
Spider veins tend to run in families like other health conditions, leading experts to believe your genetics play a role. The high levels of estrogen during pregnancy can cause broken blood vessels. Prolonged sun exposure can cause your blood vessels to swell, making them more noticeable. Certain types of rosacea can also lead to flushing and breakouts of spider veins.
Although moderate drinking can cause flushing, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to permanent spider veins. Injuries with bruising can cause spider veins to become more pronounced. Sneezing or vomiting can cause sudden, extreme pressure in your face and break blood vessels. Living in hot weather conditions can also promote the swelling of veins.
How To Prevent Spider Veins
The best way to prevent spider veins is to work on the risk factors you may have. While you can’t change your family history, age, or having been pregnant, you can address other factors to help significantly reduce your risk.
Get plenty of exercise. Excess weight puts pressure on your legs and can cause the one-way valves in your veins to weaken or fail completely. Exercise will help you lose weight and relieve some of that excess pressure on your legs. As an added bonus, the flexing of your calf muscles simply by walking helps pump blood from your legs back to your heart.
Combine eating a healthy diet with exercise to help boost your weight loss results. You can start by reducing your salt intake to improve circulation. Eat a diverse diet full of colorful fruits and veggies along with plenty of fiber. Drink plenty of water and cut down on sugary drinks and alcohol.
Sitting or standing for long periods of time can restrict the blood flow in your legs, resulting in venous insufficiency. Sometimes this can’t be avoided if your job requires sitting or standing. If this is the case, use your breaks to either sit or take a short walk depending on your situation. You can also flex your calves and legs to help promote blood circulation while working.
Our team of vascular specialists uses non-invasive methods to remove your spider veins. These weblike veins are the result of weakened or damaged veins near the surface of your skin. You can have spider veins for a variety of reasons, including your age, sex, weight, and even genetics. You may be able to prevent them with exercise, eating healthy, and weight loss.
Are you ready to rid yourself of spider veins? Call us today at (812) 424-8231 to schedule your appointment!
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231. We are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm if you would like to schedule an appointment.
