Understanding Spider Veins

If you have small, twisted veins on your legs or feet, then you probably have spider veins. Spider veins are smaller and closer to the skin than varicose veins and are red, purple and blue in color. You can easily see your spider veins through your skin. Spider veins are fairly common and tend to appear as you age. To give you an idea of how common spider veins are, a recent study, conducted by the department of vascular medicine of Cleveland Clinic, analyzed 1,566 people to find 84% had spider veins on their right legs alone.

So, what exactly are spider veins?

The medical term for spider veins is telangiectasia. Spider veins are dilated capillaries, which are smallest blood vessels in your body. Your capillaries can dilate and develop spider veins when the walls of the capillaries weaken or when an increased pressure of blood is passing through them. As your capillaries expand, they become wider and longer, which is why they have a twisted and wavy appearance.

Spider veins are often viewed as a cosmetic problem, but some people experience pain and discomfort. Common symptoms of spider veins are tired, swollen and/or heavy legs. The veins can even rapture and cause bleeding. In many cases, spider veins are a symptom of a pathological condition called venous hypertension, which is when you have high blood pressure inside your veins.

What causes spider veins?

There are a number of factors, called “risk factors”, responsible for formation of spider veins. Genetic predisposition is the only risk factor in the group of so-called “non-modifiable” factors. The modifiable factors include increased body weight, prolonged immobility, occupations requiring either prolonged standing or habitual heavy lifting and many others.
Are spider veins treatable?

Spider veins are treatable. If you think you have spider veins, then you should contact a spider veins treatment center in NYC to get them removed. The most effective method of spider vein treatment is with FlexiPulse transcutaneous laser therapy. This is non-invasive painless procedure, during which laser light goes through the skin and gets absorbed by hemoglobin of our red blood cells. The activated by laser hemoglobin seals spider veins shut, after which our body disintegrates them.

The New York Vein Treatment Center offers a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for treatment of spider veins and other vein disease of the lower extremities. Call (212) 575-8346 to schedule your consultation today!

Dr. Lev Khitin

Dr. Lev Mark Khitin, a leading cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, is the founder of the New York Vein Treatment Center. With almost 20 years of experience and over 20,000 successful vein procedures, he is a renowned expert in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. Dr. Khitin’s patient-centered approach and advanced surgical skills have consistently delivered excellent results, making him a prominent figure in the field.