More than 80 million people in the United States have problems with their veins, the vessels that return blood to the heart once it has circulated through the body.

Veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If these valves stop functioning the way they are supposed to, blood can flow backwards and pool in the vein, causing it to stretch.

These enlarged blood vessels fall into three groups: varicose veins, telangiectasias, and spider veins. Spider veins are visible on the surface of the skin as red, blue or purple lines. Varicose veins are larger and deeper and often look like bluish bumps under the skin.

Varicose Veins

• Varicose veins are swollen, dark blue or purple blood vessels. They often look like twisted cords, and usually appear on the calves, inside of the legs, and ankles.
• Varicose veins form when the valves within a vein weaken and allow some blood to flow backward. The vein weakens under the additional strain and balloons outward, raising the skin surface.
• About 25%-33% of women and 10%-20% of men in the United States are effected by varicose veins.
• Varicose veins are associated with vascular malformation and can lead to varying degrees of symptoms, including: swelling, throbbing, cramping or achiness. Some patients also report fatigue, restlessness, burning, itching, or heaviness in the legs. Although pain may be absent in the morning, any discomfort is usually aggravated by standing and may become worse as the day progresses.
• See Our Services page for information regarding the treatment of varicose veins.

Spider Veins

• Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are small, thin, blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They appear most commonly on the face, thighs, and feet, and may look like a series of lines, tree branches, or a spider- or web-like shape with a dark center.
• Spider veins can be caused by venous insufficiency, a condition where vein valves, acting as one way flaps, prevent blood flow backwards while moving up the legs.
• It is estimated that spider veins affect nearly half of adult women in the United States.
• Although spider veins are usually considered only a cosmetic problem, spider veins can show symptoms of a burning sensation or a dull, throbbing pain, and can lead to varicose veins and other serious complications.
• See Our Services page for information regarding the treatment of spider veins.

If Left Untreated...

Varicose veins are a progressive disease. Spider veins very often occur in conjunction with varicose veins. You can experience pain when standing or walking, develop sores on or near a varicose vein, and your feet and ankles may swell.

If left untreated, spider and varicose veins can cause, blood clots, phlebitis, venous statis ulcers, skin discoloration, lipodermatosclerosis, and atrophie blanche.

Although spider veins and varicose veins cannot be cured, they are a problem that can be successfully treated. Contact the Chicago Vein Institute for a consultation and help prevent your condition from getting worse.

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