Are Spider Veins a Health Concern?

You’ve noticed that some spindly veins have popped up on the surface of your skin on your legs that look like part of a spider’s web. Well, that’s exactly why the condition telangiectasias is known as spider veins.

This vascular issue is an incredibly common one that affects half of women and a large percentage of men, though women outpace men by quite a bit thanks to some key risk factors that we get into below.

As to whether spider veins are cause for concern, we turn to board-certified cardiologist Dr. Satjit Bhusri and the vascular health team at The Upper East Side Vein Institute. The good news is that spider veins are mostly harmless, but, in some cases, they can become symptomatic and indicate more serious cardiovascular disease.

What are spider veins?

Let’s start with an interesting point about spider veins — they aren’t veins at all. Instead, telangiectasias are formed by damaged capillaries, venules, and arterioles, which are smaller blood vessels that act as conduits between your larger veins and arteries.

Spider veins are the result of weakening and expansion in these tiny blood vessels, which sends them to the surface of your skin. Why this happens can boil down to many issues, including:

• Hormonal fluctuations and pregnancy, which is why women get more spider veins
• Trauma that damages blood vessels
• Vascular issues, namely chronic venous insufficiency 
• Genetic disorders
• Certain medications
• Sun exposure
• Having obesity

Another risk factor for spider veins that should be included is simple aging — as you get older, blood vessels weaken and become more susceptible to damage.

In most cases, once a spider vein forms, it’s typically there for good, though some hormone- and medication-related spider veins can fade.

Are spider veins potentially dangerous?

Let’s now turn our attention to the title of this blog about whether spider veins are a health concern. The good news is that, in most cases, spider veins are harmless and more of a cosmetic concern than a health one.

There are instances, however, when you should pay more attention to these vascular developments. Our main concern with spider veins is that they can indicate chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

CVI affects between 10% and 35% of adults in the United States, and it occurs when tiny valves in the veins in your legs weaken. When this happens, they don’t completely close, which means blood isn’t being circulated back out of your legs efficiently. And when this blood flow stalls, blood can pool, leading to vascular issues like spider veins and varicose veins.

With time, spider veins related to vascular issues and circulation often become itchy or painful, and your legs can cramp easily. You might also develop restless leg syndrome at night.

So, if you’re concerned about your cardiovascular health or your spider veins are symptomatic, it’s a good idea to see us for an evaluation.

If you just want to learn more about getting rid of unsightly spider veins. We offer a wide range of vein treatments that can make quick work of your spider veins.

For expert diagnosis and care of spider veins, we invite you to call our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 212-752-3464. You can also schedule an appointment online by clicking here.