Introduction to Spider Veins
Spider veins are increasingly common, occurring in half of the population over 50. Research has suggested that women are four times more likely than men to be affected [1]. The rate increases with the number of pregnancies a woman has had due to changes in hormones affecting vein dilation. A major risk factor in both men and women is obesity and being in occupations that require prolonged sitting or standing, both of which increase the likelihood of developing spider veins [2].Compared to varicose veins, which cause twisted, rope-like formations under the skin and result in pain and swelling, spider veins are mostly an aesthetic problem and resemble thin, red, blue, or purple branches that appear on the legs and, rarely, on the face. The majority of patients with this condition are asymptomatic, however a few complain of leg fatigue or pain in the legs.
