How to Prevent Spider Veins

When the weather finally gets warmer, it’s time to break out the shorts and t-shirts — but what if you feel self-conscious about your skin? If you have spider veins, you might worry about how noticeable they are, especially after a long winter.

“Spider veins are one of the most common vein conditions — in fact, many adults develop some form of them in their lifetime,” says Sherry Scovell, MD, a vascular surgeon with the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute who cares for patients at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Spider veins are extremely common and don’t need to be covered up, but you may dislike them and seek out ways to reduce their appearance. There are medical treatments available if you choose, but different lifestyle changes can help you prevent spider veins from getting worse.

Dr. Scovell shares ways to help treat spider veins at home, and she explains when to worry about spider veins and potentially seek medical treatment.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins (also called telangiectasias, or thread veins) are clusters of small, damaged blood vessels under your skin. They appear as thin, web-like lines and may be red, blue, or purple in color. Spider veins usually occur on the legs, but they also appear on the face or other places on the body.

Reticular veins are slightly larger and feed blood into spider veins. If a provider treats your spider veins, they will need to treat the reticular veins first to keep the smaller veins from being damaged further.

Spider veins can appear at any age, but most people develop them when they’re 30 to 50 years old. Women are more likely than men to have spider veins.

While spider veins typically don’t cause symptoms, they can sometimes be uncomfortable, especially when they first appear. If your veins are uncomfortable or cause a burning or itching sensation, talk to a health care provider to see if medical treatment may be right for you.

How to prevent spider veins

Your spider veins won’t cause any medical issues, but you may dislike the appearance of them. There are different activities you can try at home to help reduce the appearance of your spider veins and prevent new ones from forming.

However, Dr. Scovell emphasizes that natural treatments won’t get rid of spider veins completely. “The only way to remove spider veins is to have a provider perform minimally invasive treatments. But there are steps you can take on your own to prevent your spider veins from getting worse.”

Here are some lifestyle changes to help prevent new spider veins and keep existing ones from getting worse:

• Exercise regularly. Any physical activity, whether it’s walking, strength training, or stretching, helps your circulation and improves blood flow throughout your body. This strengthens your blood vessels and prevents more from becoming damaged.
• Stop smoking. If you smoke, your veins and blood vessels are more likely to become weaker and damaged over time.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight to reduce the pressure on your blood vessels. If you have overweight or obesity, you may consider working with a provider to develop a weight management plan.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Focusing on foods that reduce inflammation in your body and are high in fiber and antioxidants may help prevent spider veins from getting worse.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing on areas near your spider veins. However, wearing compression stockings may help prevent new spider veins from forming. You can buy these over the counter or a provider can prescribe them.
• Avoid standing or sitting for too long. Change positions frequently if you can, and elevate your legs while sitting. This helps improve blood flow if you need to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Talk to your provider about supplements. Dr. Scovell notes that horse chestnut may help manage any discomfort from spider veins. Your provider may recommend this or other supplements that help support vein health, such as diosmin, hesperidin, and MPFF.

Are spider veins dangerous?

“Spider veins are not dangerous, and they do not cause health issues—not ever,” Dr. Scovell confirms. However, spider veins could be a sign of more advanced vein issues, especially if you notice a large cluster of them on the inside of your ankle. You may have an underlying vein condition, like superficial vein insufficiency or varicose veins.

Varicose veins are swollen veins that appear twisting and rope-like under the skin. They’re different from spider veins because they’re usually larger, cause discomfort or pain, and may require medical treatment. “We’d want to address your varicose veins first before worrying about spider veins,” Dr. Scovell says.

She notes that spider vein treatment is usually cosmetic, and the only medical reason would be if the spider veins cause bleeding. This may happen in spider veins that are close to the surface of the skin, especially just after getting out of the shower. If this happens, sit down, elevate your leg, and put pressure on the bleeding. Then be sure to call your health care provider right away.

Treatment for spider veins

If your spider veins cause discomfort or you want to treat them, talk to a health care provider. They’ll share different medical treatment options for spider veins. Some of these options include:

• Sclerotherapy. Providers usually treat the bigger veins first with this minimally invasive treatment, which involves injecting a foam or liquid into the spider vein. This causes the blood vessel to close, and the spider vein fades as the body absorbs it naturally. It may take a few weeks for the spider vein to disappear, and you may need more than one treatment. You also need to wear compression stockings for 2 weeks after the procedure.
  
• Laser treatments. These work well for smaller spider veins that may be left over after sclerotherapy. A provider directs a laser light onto the spider vein, heating the blood vessels without damaging your skin. This destroys the spider vein and causes it to fade. Smaller veins may disappear shortly after a single treatment, but larger spider veins may take longer to fade or require additional treatments.

Whether your spider veins cause discomfort or you just don’t like how they look, there are treatments to help. Lifestyle changes and home remedies for spider veins may help you feel more confident, but if they don’t do the trick, talk with your provider to consider other treatment options.