If you have been distressed recently and noticed the appearance of little red and blue lines on your legs, don’t panic. Yes, you are young, healthy, and quite fit, so why would you see those “old lady” spider veins?
You may not like how they look, but the fact is they are really nothing to become upset about, and they happen to be quite normal. With that said, there are some facts you should know about spider veins even if you are young. Weirton Medical Center also treats spider veins and varicose veins.
Don’t mistake spider veins for varicose veins. Varicose veins are a darker more dilated vein that can become dangerous if left untreated. It is the painful and unsightly condition you notice on many older women.
Spider veins are much smaller and thinner blue or red veins on the skin. Also known as Telangiectasia, spider veins are virtually painless and can show up in many places like on legs, behind the knees in young athletes, and on the face.
What spider and varicose veins have in common is their underlying cause, namely circulation issues. The main culprit is increased pressure on veins and blood vessels which have to work harder to circulate blood through the body.
In simple terms, anything that puts pressure on your vascular system can cause spider veins. Pregnancy puts pressure on the entire body leading to spider vein development. Obesity can also trigger greater pressure on blood vessels as the body works harder to circulate the blood.
If your parents or grandparents had spider veins at a young age, you are likely to get them too. Yet again, another genetic whammy!
Unfortunately, young otherwise healthy and active women can discover spider veins on their legs, and especially behind their knees if they do any running. You may find them ugly, but they are not really harmful.
Facial spider veins have several causes. They may be found on the nose, around the nose, and on the cheeks mainly. Some of the more common reasons include:
Spider veins will not just go away on their own without some type of intervention. You can try a cover-up to hide spider veins if they really bother you, but that’s a short term fix.
Although there are no real health risks from spider veins, even if you are young, here is one word of caution: If you discover spider veins rapidly increasing on your torso, arms or legs, it might be wise to have a professional examine the changes. You can read more about vein treatments at Weirton Medical Center here.
Contact Weirton Medical at (304) 797-6000 for an evaluation if you are considering the removal of spider veins.
Sources:
https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/special/young-people-and-spider-veins-whats-the-connection
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/varicose-spider-veins#1
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312845.php