Spider veins and varicose veins are a common problem in both sexes. The National Women's Health Information Center estimates that approximately 50 to 55 percent of women and 40 to 45 percent of men in the U.S. suffer from some type of vein problem. Several treatment options are available to treat both types of vein abnormalities.
Identification
Varicose veins are large, raised, firm veins that bulge or twist noticeably under the skin. The veins may look the same color as your skin or may appear blue, purple or red. Spider veins are red or blue blood vessels located close to the skin's surface. They are called spider veins because they may form patterns that look like a spider's web or tree branches. The National Women's Health Information Center reports that spider veins are found on the legs and face and varicose veins are found on the thighs, inside of the leg and backs of the calves.
Symptoms
If you have spider veins, you may notice no symptoms or may experience burning or itching. Symptoms of varicose veins include a heavy feeling in the legs, pain when sitting or standing for a long period of time and itching, cramping, swelling or burning sensations in the legs. MayoClinic.com reports that the development of skin ulcers near the ankle may indicate that you have a severe form of vascular disease that requires medical attention.
Cause
The National Women's Health Information Center reports that varicose veins can be caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins. Veins return circulated blood back to the heart. If valves in the veins don't work properly, all of the blood is not returned to the heart. Instead, some of the blood leaks back into the veins in the leg, causing vein enlargement.
Spider veins can occur due to the same reason, but may also form due to sun exposure, obesity, injuries or as a result of hormonal and other changes that occur during pregnancy, menopause, puberty or birth control pill use. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that varicose veins occur mainly due to a genetic susceptibility.
Treatment
Doctors use sclerotherapy to treat varicose and spider veins. During sclerotherapy treatment, your doctor injects veins with a chemical or saline solution that causes the veins to collapse. The collapsed veins become scar tissue that is eventually absorbed by the body, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Laser treatment can be helpful in treating and destroying small varicose veins and spider veins. If your varicose veins are deep, your doctor may recommend endovenous ablation, a procedure that uses a laser beam or radio waves to close varicose veins.
Considerations
A surgical procedure called ligation and stripping may be used to treat large varicose veins. During stripping, doctors tie off veins or completely remove varicose veins from the legs. Ligation and stripping was once a common treatment for varicose veins, but the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery reports that the procedure has been mostly replaced by laser and radiofrequency ablation treatments.
