1. Can't Stop Mother Nature
If you are a woman with spider veins and other women in your family also have spider veins, chances are you can blame Mom or Dad. Weakened walls of the veins, valves or lack of sufficient vein valves all lead to excess venous pressure and spider veins and seem to be characteristics inherited from our parents. It is possible to determine with some accuracy at what age and where you might develop spider veins by comparing the cases of women in your family.
2. Pregnancy is a Common Culprit
Pregnancy is one of the most common causes of spider veins, as the fluctuations in female hormones causes the veins and valves to soften. The increased susceptibility of the veins to stretch and become enlarged, combined with the increase of blood circulation to the fetus and pressure on the pelvis, leads to spider veins on the legs. While many women claim that spider veins disappear after giving birth, others claim they remain or even reappear later in life.
3. Keep Moving
Sitting or standing for long periods of time causes fluid build-up in the legs, causing excess pressure on delicate veins. Any time that the muscles of the calves are inactive, blood has a hard time returning to the heart. If your job requires prolonged sitting or standing, prop your feet up, take short walks or perform calf exercises to get your blood flowing and prevent spider veins.
4. Injuries Can Weaken the Veins
Injury or trauma, such as a sport's injury, car accident, surgery or broken bone can cause weakness in the veins and valves. Bruising, which is caused by blood pooling due to broken veins under the surface of the skin, can also lead to inflammation and enlarged veins. Even if spider veins are not apparent after your injury has healed, the weakened veins may persist, causing spider veins to appear years after the area seems to have healed completely.
5. Varicose Veins May Lead to Spider Veins
Varicose veins are large inflamed veins that often appear to have a blue color and protrude from the skin, where spider veins are small and red, often creating a spider web pattern on the skin without disrupting surface texture. When a varicose vein becomes so large that it bursts, the blood can end up pooling in other areas, causing an excess of spider veins. Spider veins may occur near varicose veins before they burst. If you notice these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible, as burst varicose veins can cause other complications.
