/assets/images/provider/photos/2710449.jpg)
Will My Spider Veins Eventually Go Away on Their Own?
Tired of looking at spider veins and wondering if they’ll disappear? The good news is that these tiny red, purple, or blue spidery lines aren’t a health threat.
But at New Horizons Wellness Center & MediSpa in Spring, Texas, our providers know that while spider veins aren’t dangerous for your physical health, they can impact your confidence, making you uncomfortable in your own skin.
Keep reading to learn how we treat them.
Why do spider veins develop?
Spider veins develop when pressure on the walls in a tiny vein-like structure causes them to weaken and bulge. There are different reasons this pressure builds. Sometimes, an injury that causes extreme swelling can trigger it.
In most cases, a faulty valve causes a build-up of blood in the vein. Your veins have one-way valves that help regulate blood flow. If the valve is damaged, wears out, or gets stuck, blood pools in your vein, causing pressure.
Sometimes, a temporary condition, like pregnancy or taking certain medications, can result in added pressure in your veins. No matter what causes it, if blood pools in a vein close to the surface of your skin, they’re visible as red, blue, or purple lines — spider veins.
Who gets spider veins?
At some point in their lives, the majority of people get at least a few spider veins. They usually appear on your legs, ankles, and feet, but you can get them anywhere.
Although anyone can get spider veins, certain risk factors make it more likely that spider veins will make an appearance, including:
- Being overweight or obese
- Being female
- Family history of spider or varicose veins
- A history of vascular or connective tissue disease
- Experiencing chronic constipation
- A job that requires a lot of time on your feet (e.g., teacher, hair stylist)
- Using hormonal birth control
- Sun exposure
If you have a history of blood clots or tumors in your legs, you also have a higher risk of getting spider veins.
Will my spider veins go away on their own?
In some cases, when caused by a temporary situation, spider veins may disappear on their own when the trigger resolves. For example, some spider veins that appear in pregnancy may become less visible in the months after delivery.
But for most people, spider veins are permanent. However, it’s not all bad news. There are steps you can take to prevent more spider veins from developing and existing spider veins from getting worse, including:
- Wearing sunscreen
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding sitting or standing for long periods
- Elevating your legs when you can
- Not sitting with crossed legs
- Not wearing tight clothes
- Wearing compression stockings/leggings/socks
For the best protection against spider veins, you’ll also want to avoid wearing high heels and opt for comfortable and supportive footwear instead.
Is there anything that will erase my spider veins?
Absolutely! At New Horizons Wellness Center & MediSpa, we use pain-free laser treatments to erase spider veins. With laser therapy, we can safely make even the tiniest spider veins disappear.
The targeted energy causes the spider vein to collapse, sealing the vein shut. However, it doesn’t harm your skin or the surrounding tissues.
In the weeks following your treatment, your body’s natural healing processes break down the treated vein. Over time, the dead cells are with other cellular waste through your lymphatic system.
More than one laser treatment session may be needed, depending on your spider veins. Your New Horizons Wellness Center & MediSpa provider creates a personalized spider vein treatment plan.
For spider vein-free skin by summer, get started with laser therapy this winter by scheduling an appointment with a provider at New Horizons Wellness Center & MediSpa in Spring, Texas.