Wondering what that bluish bulge inside your thigh is? Seeing little blue lines going up your calf? Chances are you’ve got a varicose vein or spider vein, respectively. But while the two are similar in causes, symptoms and treatment, they’re not the exact same thing. Check out these key features of both varicose veins and spider veins and learn how to treat both right here in Minneapolis.

Definition

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that appear to be red, blue, or nude/flesh. They may look like cords and appear to be either twisted and/or bulging. They can be swollen, and sometimes they’re raised above the skin’s surface. Varicose veins are most often found on your thighs, back of your calves, or inside of the leg. (In pregnancy, they form around a woman’s vagina and buttocks as well.)

Spider veins are like varicose veins, but they’re smaller and closer to the surface of your skin. They are generally red or blue and sometimes resemble tree branches or spiderwebs (short, jagged lines), hence the term “spider” veins. They too are found on your legs and sometimes can appear on your face. They can be patchy on your skin, showing up in large or small areas all at once.

Causes

Varicose veins are caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins. According to the Office of Women’s Health, as the leg muscles squeeze, they push blood back to the heart from your lower body against the flow of gravity. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps to prevent blood from flowing backward as it moves up your legs. If the valves become weak, blood can leak back into the veins and collect there. When backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they become varicose.

Spider veins are caused by the blood backing up, too, but can also be caused by:

• Hormone changes (i.e. in pregnancy, etc.)
• Prolonged sun exposure
• Leg injuries
• Prolonged sitting or standing
• Increasing age and heredity

Symptoms

Varicose veins may not cause any problems, or they may cause aching, painful throbbing and discomfort. In some cases, varicose veins will lead to more serious health problems. These include:

• Sores or skin ulcers due to long-term backing up of blood. These are painful and can be tough to heal. Sometimes they can’t heal until the backward blood flow is repaired.
• Bleeding. The skin over the veins becomes thin and easily injured. If an injury occurs, there can be significant blood loss.
• Superficial thrombophlebitis is a blood clot that forms in a vein just below the skin.
• Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a deeper vein. It can cause a pulling feeling in the calf, plus pain, warmth, redness and swelling.

Spider veins are rarely serious, but they can cause uncomfortable feelings in the legs. WebMD says if there are symptoms from spider veins, most often there will be itching or burning. Less often, spider veins are a sign of blood backup deeper inside the leg. If so, you could have the same symptoms as you would have with varicose veins.

Treatment

Both varicose veins and spider veins are treated long-term with lifestyle changes, but there are medical treatment options in the shorter term that help relieve symptoms and improve the appearance of the veiny areas. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes if your varicose veins don’t cause many symptoms. If symptoms are more severe, your doctor may recommend minimally invasive treatments. Some treatment options include:

• Compression stockings
• Sclerotherapy (chemical injection)
• Surface laser vein treatments
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques

The Minneapolis Vein Center specializes in state-of-the-art treatment of medical and cosmetic vascular conditions, primarily varicose veins and spider veins. Here, we believe there is not a one-size-fits-all treatment option, so you’ll receive tailored treatment that is best for you. Minneapolis Vein Center offers innovative, minimally invasive, and cost-effective treatments; call today to schedule your free vein screening: (763) 398-8710.