Spider veins are often thought of purely as an aesthetic issue, and not one to be taken seriously in a medical sense. However, these troublesome veins can sometimes cause an individual more than just aesthetic woes. Can spider veins be itchy?
One of the ways that this can occur is through an obnoxious itching issue. This can make these veins a practical issue, on top of them being an aesthetic eye sore.
How Can Spider Veins Be Itchy?
If you’re suffering from spider veins and are finding that they are beginning to itch, take a look at this guide that describes how to deal with this annoying problem, as well as whether you should seek out professional spider vein treatment.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are the name given to red, blue, and purple lines on the superficial layer of your skin. For most individuals, they find that these types of veins are really only an aesthetic concern that doesn’t bother them beyond this field. That being said, most will opt to remove spider veins, even if it’s just for aesthetic preference.
Spider veins come about through damaged blood vessels that lie under the skin. Fortunately for interested patients, there are many different treatments available for those who wish to remove their spider veins.
The Causes of Spider Veins
Spider veins are caused by blood vessels widening and clustering underneath the skin that cause them to branch out in their distinctive appearance. Generally experienced with no pain, these veins are easy to spot and differentiate from other types of visible veins, such as varicose veins.
These veins become more common as one ages, with some studies estimating that they may appear in up to 50% of women and 40% of men over the course of a lifetime. Some of the common areas where spider veins appear include the feet, legs, cheeks, and face.
Risk Factors to Keep an Eye Out For
There are some common risk factors at play for the development of spider veins. Some of the more common ones include the following:
- Lifestyle Habits: Several lifestyle habits can contribute to the development of spider veins. This includes poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity. These types of habits can affect one’s blood flow and increase pressure on the veins in general.
- Heredity: Almost half of the patients that develop spider veins have a family history of similar issues.
- Jobs: Jobs that require one to sit for extended periods of time can increase one’s chances of developing spider veins.
- Pregnancy: Some of the hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy have the potential to cause spider veins to develop
Why Do Spider Veins Begin Itching?
There are several different reasons why spider veins might begin itching. Oftentimes, it is an indication that the valves in your veins have become damaged in some way. This, in turn, indicates that the blood flow in your body isn’t properly regulating itself.
When this occurs, it means that the body’s inflammatory response will kick in, which prevents healthy levels of oxygen from reaching the skin. Once this occurs, the spider veins begin itching. If this type of problem is allowed to persist, the damage to the extremities can increase, damaging your spider veins to the point that they become varicose veins. Varicose veins are more damaging than spider veins and are a medical issue that should be dealt with.
Treating Spider Veins Effectively
Do you have itching spider veins bothering you? You’ll first want to visit an expert and have them assess the seriousness of your issue. This is performed with a diagnostic venous ultrasound. This is a test used to assess how serious your spider veins are. This type of procedure is non-invasive, non-surgical, and can be completed in approximately an hour.
Following this test, there are several others that your doctor might suggest you undergo. This includes the following tests:
- Microfoam ablation
- Sclerotherapy
- Radiofrequency Ablation
The necessity or relevancy of these tests will be determined during your consultation. In addition, your physician may be able to offer you recommendations on steps to take to diminish your spider veins naturally.
A Cardiovascular Specialist for Beverly Hills
Dr. Hooman Madyoon and the rest of the team at Beverly Hills Heart and Vascular Center are dedicated to offering their suite of services to the discerning residents of Beverly Hills. If you’re suffering from spider veins and would like to take things into your own hands, contact us today to set up an appointment with our cardiovascular specialist.