Although spider veins are a common condition, it doesn’t make them any less frustrating. Usually affecting females whom are middle aged and up, these dark veins are not only embarrassing, but they also can pose a health risk if they are severe.
What are they?
The pathways which carry the blood throughout our body are supposed to travel in only one direction. There are paths to carry oxygen-rich blood, and others to bring it back to our heart. When the capillaries below the surface of the skin aren’t flowing properly, the blood can back up; turning them a dark purple or black color. The nickname for these are spider veins.
What causes them?
So what causes these veins to not work properly? Well, there are a number of known spider vein causes, the most prevalent being genetics. Often times people appear to be predispositioned to developing them at a certain age. There are also other causes though like excessive sun exposure and being overweight.
What can be done?
There are quite a few different treatments out there for spider veins, from topical at home skin creams to procedures at the doctors office. If your case isn’t too bad, spider vein cream may be able to help. These creams usually use a 5% concentration of vitamin K, which is known to help with some types of blood circulatory issues. If the are present around your eyes, there is also vitamin K eye cream which uses the same active ingredient.
However, many people end up needing more intense treatments. The two most widely used are laser spider vein removaland sclerotherapy, both of which need to be administered by medical professionals. The laser removal method usually requires two to five treatments in order to achieve the desired results. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a corrosive solution which destroys the problem veins and usually only one treatment is necessary. But because the injection flows throughout the entire body (including the brain) many have been hesitant of using this technique lately, yet it still remains the most popular choice.