Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are tiny, dilated blood vessels that form fibrous or thread-like shapes on the skin’s surface. The veins may be varying shades of red, blue, or purple. Visiting a cardiovascular disease specialist can help you learn more about this condition and receive quality treatment. Here are three things to know about spider veins:
1. What Causes Spider Veins?
Excess body weight places additional pressure on the blood vessels in the legs and abdomen, disrupting normal blood flow. This impaired circulation causes blood to pool in the vessels, leading to the development of spider veins. Another contributing factor is dysfunctional venous valves, which can prevent blood from flowing properly.
Hormonal imbalances, such as those experienced during menopause or while using contraceptives, also increase the risk of spider veins. When estrogen and progesterone levels are imbalanced, the efficiency of vein valves may decline due to the gradual weakening of the blood vessel walls. During pregnancy, vein pressure tends to increase because of the heightened blood supply required to support the growing fetus. This can also result in spider vein formation. Some other factors that increase the risk of telangiectasias include trauma, genetics, and excess exposure to the sun.
2. What Are the Symptoms?
Common symptoms of spider veins include aching and itching, which may be caused by the pressure exerted in the blood vessels. Venous pressure leads to inflammation of the blood vessel walls, narrowing the vessels and resulting in discomfort, heaviness, and mild irritation or burning in the affected areas. When normal blood flow is disrupted, the muscles receive less oxygen, which can lead to muscle fatigue and night cramps.
3. How Are They Diagnosed and Treated?
A vascular specialist can take you through physical exams, such as ultrasound scans, to understand the severity of your condition. Doppler and duplex ultrasound scans are the options cardiovascular specialists use to see how the blood flows and determine if there is venous insufficiency. A cardiovascular specialist can also examine your veins visually by checking for colored, thread-like patterns. Gentle palpations enable the specialists to feel if the skin surface around areas with telangiectasias is swollen or tender.
Sclerotherapy is one of the treatments cardiovascular disease specialists offer to individuals with this vascular problem. During this treatment, a doctor injects a chemical solution known as sclerosant to trigger irritation in the walls of blood vessels. When this happens, the walls become narrower and stick together, stopping the blood from flowing through them. The blood diverts from the dilated veins to other healthy veins. Laser therapy is also a form of treatment that addresses telangiectasias by collapsing and closing the dilated veins.
Contact a Vascular Disease Specialist Today
Telangiectasias is a vascular condition that may cause aesthetic concerns or uncomfortable symptoms like aching, itching, or burning. Early treatment of this condition may prevent blood circulation from worsening and causing issues like skin hyperpigmentation or blood clots. If you suspect that you have spider veins, contact a professional cardiovascular specialist today for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan.
