No one welcomes the appearance of those visible networks of lines known as spider veins. Why do some people get them and others don’t? While there is no way to tell for sure if you will develop spider veins at some point, there are some factors that put you at higher risk they will make an appearance. Some of those risk factors are under your control, while others you won’t be able to do much about.
The Problem with Genetics
One of the biggest factors influencing whether you will develop spider veins (and one that you can’t control, unfortunately) is your family history. If one or both of your parents have spider veins, you are much more likely to get them as well. This may be due to the fact that spider veins can appear because of faulty veins, particularly the hard-working veins in the lower legs. Weak veins may be a family trait, which increases your odds for those visible vein networks.
The Hormone Factor
There is a reason why spider veins tend to appear around pregnancy or menopause. The small, superficial veins of the body can be vulnerable to the hormonal fluctuations that accompany these events. During pregnancy, the problem can become even more pronounced as the expanding belly puts additional stress on vessels. Some women also find spider veins make an appearance when they begin taking hormone replacement therapy.
The Link to Your Weight
There is a definite association between visible spider veins, weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle. When you don’t work your legs regularly, the calf muscles don’t provide the support the lower leg veins need to move blood back up the legs to the heart. This can allow the vessels to wear out or become damaged over time. When you pack on a few extra pounds, the additional weight further stresses the veins and increases the odds they will swell and become visible on the skin’s surface.
How Your Job Plays a Role
Even your occupation can have an impact on whether you will eventually see those unsightly spider veins appear. Professionals that log long hours on their feet, such as hair stylists, flight attendants and healthcare workers, put a lot of wear and tear on the lower leg veins, increasing the odds they might become damaged over time. By the same token, people that work behind a desk all day may also be at higher risk, since their calf muscles are never working to give the lower leg veins the support they need.
Sun Dangers
Stress on the veins is not the only reasons spider veins appear. Veins can also become visible due to too much sun exposure. The UV rays can damage the skin around the vessel, making the vein more apparent. This problem is particularly prevalent in fair-skinned individuals that are already more vulnerable to sun damage overall. In addition to spider veins appearing on the legs, this problem can result in the formation of the visible vessels on the arms and face.
Treatment Options
Fortunately, you don’t have to live with unattractive spider veins forever. If they do appear, there are a number of effective and minimally-invasive procedures that will eradicate those vein networks. At the Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin, we offer proven therapies like sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation to eliminate those vessels from the inside out. These procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and patients are usually able to return to their regular activities immediately following treatment.
If you have spider veins you would like to eliminate, contact the Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin today at 800-910-8346 to find out which vein treatment is right for you.