Spider veins are caused by weak or damaged valves. These valves are an important part of cardiovascular function. They essentially help your blood travel upward, through your legs, against the pull of gravity. When they’re functioning properly, they only allow blood to travel in one direction, preventing blood from succumbing to gravity and pooling in the vein. However, when they fail to function as intended, you are more likely to see veins stretch and twist as a result of the increased pressure. Now let’s look for some hidden causes of spider veins.

Hidden Causes of Spider Veins

This is the direct cause of spider veins, but several factors may increase the likelihood that you will experience spider veins. Each risk factor is linked to either weakening blood vessels or increased blood pressure, but they aren’t all avoidable. In order to give you the best information, we’ve put together the most common risk factors and treatment options if you develop spider veins at some point in your life.

Age

Spider veins are not necessarily a by-product of old age, but they are more common in older people. As with every other tissue in our body, our valves can experience minor to severe damage as a result of long-term use. Given time it is likely that some valves will experience enough damage to result in the pooling we associate with spider veins.

Sex

Biological women are simply more likely to have spider veins. The natural hormonal changes caused by menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can cause vein walls to relax, making them more prone to damage. In addition, people who use hormonal birth control may also see higher rates of spider veins.

Genetics

As with many medical conditions, spider veins regularly show up in families. If your parents or grandparents had varicose veins, you are more likely to develop them. Keep in mind that other factors, including lifestyle and the usage of additional hormones may affect some family histories.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most dramatic changes a person’s body can go through. Your blood volume literally increases to help support your developing fetus. Sometimes that pressure is too much for your cardiovascular system, and it can cause permanent damage to those valves. That is why many people who have undergone pregnancy have spider veins.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Sitting or standing in one position for too long decreases your circulation and can cause blood to pool more easily. It is important to regularly change your position. This can help prevent spider veins and potentially dangerous blood clots that could travel elsewhere in the body.

Obesity

Carrying excessive weight puts added pressure on your veins, causing damage to the valves as well as the larger cardiovascular system. However, this isn’t necessarily limited to those who are obese. Even bodybuilders who carry too much weight can experience cardiovascular damage. In this case, it is all about the physical weight pressing on your veins.

Considering Treatment

Spider veins are generally just a cosmetic concern, but they can cause discomfort in some patients. Either way, you can have vein treatment in Beverly Hills to rid yourself of varicose veins. Spider vein removal in Beverly Hills comes in three different forms: radiofrequency ablation, laser vein removal, and foam ablation. Each is catered to a specific patient’s needs, but the results are similar.

In each case, the goal is to reopen the compressed veins causing the pooling associated with spider veins. Once that is achieved, your doctor will use a combination of sclerotherapy and microphlebectomy to remove any remaining visible spider veins. With the right combination of treatments built around your specific needs you can count on a high rate of success and satisfaction.