Causes of Spider Veins - 1

Spider veins are enlargements of blood vessels that you wouldn't ordinarily see in the skin that take on a blue or red color and there are several causes of spider veins. They can be seen in any place on the thighs, legs, ankles and feet, they can be flat or raised, and they play no favorites, they are found on both men and women.

Spider veins are those thread-like colored veins that can be seen on the surface of your skin. In most cases, they not as painful as enlarged varicose veins but they can still bleed and get worse without treatment. Spider veins are seen most often in the legs but can be seen in the face and elsewhere. These spider veins, medically referred to as telangectasias, will get so bad that they will ever become the large bulging varicose veins.

Spider veins and varicose veins are not the same, and because you have one, it doesn't mean that you will have the other. Varicose veins are large, swollen and appear by themselves on the legs, spider veins are delicate and tend to come in cliques. They are, however, caused by similar factors.

Exactly what happens in the body to generate spider veins isn't known for sure, though there are several thoughts behind the causes of spider veins. One causes is that spider veins, which are found near the surface of the skin, feed off underlying varicose veins too small or embedded too deeply to reach the skin surface. These underlying veins interfere with circulation, causing spider veins to grow above them.

Another reason is that spider veins are actually small arteries that have attached themselves to the cluster of veins that appear nearest to your skin's surface.

Heredity and hormones along with estrogen also play a key role in the causes of spider veins. Often times, spider veins present themselves right along side of varicose veins. While many people seek treatment for cosmetic improvement, others are looking for relief from pain associated with varicose veins.

Spider veins are formed by the dilation of the small veins under the surface of the skin, and are found mostly on the legs. They look like red or purple sunbursts or web patterns. In most cases, spider veins have no health risk associated with them, but they may produce a dull aching or burning in the legs after prolonged standing.

VeinDirectory.org is a leading resource for causes of spider veins information. Search for a vein clinic near you today!