The Web of Reality: Spider Veins in Young Women

Do you work out frequently?

Do you have sudden pain or tightness or swelling in your legs?

Do you look at the blue patches of veins on your legs and think, “But aren’t I too young for spider veins?”

Think again.

The truth is that women in their 30s can get spider or varicose veins. Women in their 20s can get them. And even teens and—occasionally—children can get them.

Think of spider veins—known by phlebologists as telangiectasias—as the niece of varicose veins. Varicose veins are the more dilated and rope-like veins under the skin, which are generally more painful, while spider veins result from the enlargement of the tiny subcutaneous veins, which are usually painless.

Veins that deliver blood to the leg can get blocked for a variety of reasons—one-way valves can stop working, causing the other more visible veins to dilate, taking on extra blood. Women who work out frequently or stand for long periods of time are very likely to get some spider veins. Really, anything that increases stress in your vascular system puts extra pressure in your veins, causing them to bulge.

Of course, if you experience a very sudden change to your veins, you do want to rule out deep vein thrombosis, especially if you experience leg pain or swelling. However, this tends to be less likely in active people. They can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but spider veins pose no threats to your health (even if they occur on places such as the face), and you certainly should not stop your normal fitness routine if a few spider veins appear. But you can never go wrong with getting a suspicious vein checked out to be completely safe. There are a few rare genetic conditions that may cause patches of veins to form on your torso and arms, and you will definitely want to get those checked to rule out a more serious condition.

For active young women, the occurrence of spider veins is not something that can be completely prevented. Diet and sun exposure can play a role, and pregnancy greatly increases the likelihood of getting them. But the unfortunate truth is that some women are just genetically predisposed to get them. While it isn’t urgent to remove spider veins through laser therapy, many women, especially younger ones, opt for this easy and painless treatment, especially since spider veins can worsen over time. The good news is that laser treatment is relatively painless and quite easy, requiring minimal recovery. You can have them removed in 5-30 minutes—a quick lunch break—and be back to work directly after. For many people, this is far more convenient that wearing support stockings regularly.

The other nice factor to laser therapy is that there isn’t a “right age” to wait to get treatment, which is even safe for children, though they may be more sensitive to the pain.

If you’re tired of your spider or varicose veins and are ready for treatment or just want some more information on laser treatment or sclerotherapy, contact us at 760-944-9263 or visit our website at www.sdveininstitute.com.