At Kraig Jenson, PC, Dermatology Center, our experienced dermatologists. Dr. Kraig Jenson and Dr. Byron Edwards have been successfully helping patients treat their unsightly spider veins. These small clusters of blue, red, or purple veins are found on the legs – typically on the thighs, calves, even on the ankles – and are caused by extra pressure in the legs over a period of time.
Spider veins are often a result of weight gain and standing on your feet all day. This is why working in a profession where you are on your feet for prolonged periods, such as a teaching, waitressing or nursing, being prepared can help prevent these veins. This can be as simple as wearing compression stockings and keeping your feet up can help.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons people end up with spider veins:
– Being thin-skinned can allow spider veins to develop. This may result because of aging, taking steroids, hormones, having sleep deprivation, and collagen vascular disease.
– The older you get, the more likely something will go wrong with your blood vessels that can result in spider veins.
– If one or more of your family members have a history of spider veins, you may end up joining them.
– If you are pregnant, the increased amount of blood can cause your blood vessels to swell from the excess pressure.
– You already know how damaging the sun’s UV rays can be to the skin, but they can also make spider veins more visible by further damaging the skin.
– If you already have thicker varicose veins, they can impact the smaller veins, leading to the creation of spider veins.
What can you do to help prevent spider veins? Losing weight can significantly help keep spider veins from forming, along with elevating your legs regularly to increase blood flow and using compression hose. By exercising your legs regularly, you can increase blood flow as well so walk, run, jog, bike, do leg lifts and knee and ankle flexes. Don’t cross your legs while you sit, and don’t wear high heels. Wear sunscreen when you are outdoors, and if you smoke, enroll in a tobacco cessation program to help you quit. If you can, avoid medications that raise your risk of bleeding, such as blood thinners – aspirin or vitamin E – or speak to your doctor about adjusting your current prescribed medications.
If you need help with your spider veins, our dermatologists are here to help. We can inject a sclerosing solution into your legs that will cause them to collapse and disappear. To learn more about this treatment, please give us a call at 801.224.5200 or if you would like to schedule an appointment. We offer free screening to diagnose your condition and how it can best be treated. If you are in or near the Orem, Utah, area, we invite you to reach out and get the help you need!
