How To Prevent Spider Veins (Telangiectasias)

Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias or thread veins, resemble spider webs or tree branches. They occur when damage to blood vessels close to the skin’s surface causes them to widen. Spider veins can appear anywhere but are usually found on the legs and face.

Venous spider veins are raised, appear blue or purple, and measure 1-3 millimeters in diameter. Arterial spider veins are flat, appear red or pink, and measure 0.1-1 millimeter in diameter.

Spider veins are usually harmless to your overall health, but they might indicate severe venous disease, where damaged veins can’t return blood to the heart. Spider veins are not always preventable, but you can reduce your risk.

Males and females can both develop spider veins, but they are more common in people assigned female at birth. Spider veins affect more than half of females.

Other risk factors include general aging, obesity, and working in environments where you sit or stand for long periods. Smoking tobacco, applying steroids to the skin, eating a low-fiber diet, taking female hormones, or having a history of venous thromboembolism can also increase your risk.

People who are pregnant are also at an increased risk of spider veins because pregnancy increases the amount of blood produced and pumped throughout the body. This extra blood causes veins to swell. The growing uterus, or womb, also puts pressure on veins, which can cause spider veins.

The likelihood of developing spider veins is strongly tied to genetics and family history. Research shows that 90% of people with spider veins have had a family history of developing them.

While it is not always possible to prevent spider veins, you can reduce your risk. Methods include establishing healthy lifestyle habits, opting for certain medical procedures, and implementing complementary methods that help improve blood flow in your legs.

Testing/Screenings

Spider veins are primarily diagnosed through a physical exam by a healthcare provider. There are no laboratory tests that diagnose spider veins, but imaging tests may be ordered if chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is suspected.

With CVI, the leg veins become damaged and do not allow the blood to flow back to the heart. The condition can worsen if left undiagnosed and untreated, so healthcare providers may use imaging tests such as:

• Duplex ultrasound: This test examines how blood moves through veins and arteries. It combines a traditional ultrasound (which uses sound waves that bounce off blood vessels) with a Doppler ultrasound (which measures the speed and blood flow by recording sound waves that reflect off moving objects such as blood).
• Contrast venography: This X-ray involves injecting intravenous (IV) contrast dye into a vein to show how blood flows through the veins.
• Magnetic resonance venography: This imaging test uses magnets, IV contrast dye, and radiofrequency to produce images of the veins and their blood flow.

Lifestyle Habits

Changes to your lifestyle can help reduce your risk of spider veins. Habit changes that can help include:

• Avoid or limit smoking: Smoking has been linked to the formation of spider veins, so stop or limit smoking to reduce your risk.
• Wear sunscreen. The sun is another risk factor for spider veins, especially on the face. To help prevent them from forming, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Research shows that extra weight can make it more difficult for your veins to move blood back to your heart, leading to the formation of spider veins. Regular physical activity can help support a healthy weight and improve blood circulation in the legs and body.
• Take movement breaks: If you sit or stand for long periods, taking frequent movement breaks (every 30 minutes) will help your leg muscles move blood back up to your heart more efficiently.

Complementary Methods

In addition to the above lifestyle changes and tests, some complementary treatment methods reduce your risk of spider veins and CVI. These include:

• Wear compression stockings or socks: Compression garments are tight socks or stockings that put pressure on your veins to promote healthy circulation and increase blood flow in your legs.
• Elevate your legs: Elevating your feet while seated can help the blood in your legs flow back to your heart.
• Take pycnolgenol: Limited research has shown that supplementation with pycnolgenol, or pine bark extract, may help blood circulation and fluid retention in people with CVI. More research is needed to fully understand the potential connection.

Procedures

Certain procedures can help reduce or eliminate the look of spider veins. These include:

• Sclerotherapy: This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a chemical solution into spider veins, which causes them to swell. This stops blood flow and causes the vein to fade over a few weeks.
• Thermocoagulation: This noninvasive procedure uses a high-frequency current to reduce or eliminate spider veins on the face.
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy: A concentrated light pulse is delivered to spider veins, generating heat and damaging the vein walls. Several sessions of IPL may be required to eliminate spider veins.

If you have concerns about the look of spider veins, speak to your healthcare provider about treatment options and preventative measures you can take.

While spider veins usually present without symptoms, some people may experience burning, pain, cramping, itching, or leg fatigue. See your healthcare provider if these symptoms become uncomfortable, consistent, or painful.

Spider veins are damaged blood vessels under the skin. It is not always possible to prevent spider veins, but treatment options are available to remove or eliminate them.

Taking steps to prevent spider veins from returning after these procedures is key. Wearing compression stockings, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and taking frequent movement breaks throughout the day can all help reduce your risk.