Spider Veins

Patients seeking spider vein treatment in
Los Angeles should schedule a
complimentary consultation
with our vein doctor, Dr. D!

He will guide you through a personalized spider vein treatment and removal plan to rid you of those pesky spider veins, medically known as telangiectasis.

Spider veins are actually damaged blood vessels that are very superficial and visible to the naked eye. They appear in clusters that often resemble spider webs, hence their nickname!

Spider veins can be a cosmetic issue or a deeper underlying medical condition, or in many cases, both. In popular culture, people often put off spider veins as solely a distasteful appearance but actually they can actually be the result of a serious venous disorder. Therefore, it’s always prudent to take any medical irregularity, even something as small as a few veins, very seriously. Our team in the Sherman Oaks, larger Los Angeles area is here to help you distinguish between cosmetic and medical treatments that you may need.

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins, medically known as telangiectasia, are the result of small, damaged blood vessels that appear very close beneath the skin. These very small, superficial vessels, or more commonly known as veins, are highly visible to the naked eye. As the veins become more damaged over time, they become more visible to patients. They appear on the surface of the skin as a web-like or branch-like clusters. They are typically red, blue or purple in color, depending on your skin tone. They appear to look like “little spider webs”, hence the popularized name “spider veins.”

Cosmetic Spider Veins

If you are lucky, then your spider veins are caused solely by cosmetic issues, and not underlying venous insufficiency. These cosmetic spider veins may look unaesthetic and may cause minor discomfort, but generally pose no major health risk to you. Cosmetic spider veins may go untreated for a long time, but will generally get worse over time. Even if the concern is only cosmetic, it is good to treat the veins so that the condition will not aggressively become worse and then harder to treat in the future. If you are seeking cosmetic vein treatment, then Dr. D at the Vein Clinic LA also offers this treatment. You are in good hands with your vein team! The treatments are usually non-invasive and relatively easy as well.

Spider Veins That Signal an
Underlying Medical Condition

Spider Veins may indicate a more serious problem and are often caused by medical conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), blood clots, genetic vascular disorders, connective tissue disease and other rare vascular disorders. The smaller spider veins that appear in these instances are an added symptom of the larger diseased varicose veins or other issues. Just because you don’t visually see the large, rope-like veins doesn’t mean that you don’t have venous disease. Sometimes the diseased veins are deep within your leg.  In these cases, it’s recommended that you visit a Vein Doctor like Dr. D immediately, because any type of venous disease can become fatal.

Identifying the symptoms and causes of spider veins

What Causes Spider Veins?

  • Family history

  • Genetics

  • Pregnancy

  • Multiple pregnancies

  • Puberty

  • Hormonal changes

  • Prolonged sitting

    • Inactivity
    • Poor exercise routines

  • Prolonged standing

    • Flight attendants
    • Healthcare workers
    • Hospitality or culinary workers
    • Trades and construction

  • Age changes

  • Weight changes

  • Excess sun exposure

Spider Vein Symptoms

  • Visual vein clusters on the skin, legs, thighs, calves and ankles

  • Minor discomfort

  • Circulation issues

  • Swelling in the legs

  • Warmth, tenderness or redness (which can signal a blood clot)

  • Leg pain

  • Aches

  • Heaviness

  • Cramping in the legs

  • Itching or burning sensations over the vein cluster

  • Spider vein that ruptures and bleeds

Four Steps to Prevent Spider Veins

Step 1

Establish a regular exercise routine that incorporates light stretching, cardio and strength training.

Step 2

Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle and mediterranean diet that limits processed food, alcohol & smoking.

Step 3

Avoid wearing tight clothing near your spider veins as this can irritate the vessels even more. (compression stockings are still recommended as this provides medically supported, even pressure on your legs).

Step 4

Elevate your legs above your heart level for 15-30 minutes a couple times a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening. This is extremely easy and highly effective in reducing venous pressure in your legs and preventing spider veins.

Make an Appointment

Contact us to schedule your consultation!