Varicose Veins and Spider Veins-Are They Related?

19th May, 2011 - Posted by Dr. Gupta - No Comments

Varicose veins and spider veins are related.  In fact, spider veins are a form of varicose veins that are close to the skin surface.  To understand the relationship you must look at the vascular system in your legs.  Arteries deliver oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your legs.  Veins carry de-oxegenated blood and waste materials back to your heart.  Leg veins are far away from your heart and have to work hard to push your blood upward against gravity.  To make matters worse, many of us have genetically weak veins.  If you add more risk factors, such as standing or sitting for long periods of time, pregnancies, excess weight and increasing age, you can see how easily leg veins fail.  As veins begin to fail blood pools in them.  This increased pressure in larger veins is transferred to smaller veins all the way out to the skin’s surface.  When the veins on the skin surface fail they appear as fine red, bluish or purple “spidery” lines.  Learn more about varicose veins and spider veins and what you can do to treat them.