Spider veins are what you call the tangled, raised blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin. They will usually appear on the lower legs or thighs, but can occasionally appear on the face as well. They are generally not considered dangerous if they occur without other symptoms, such as discomfort. They are a common problem, affecting as many as half of us over the course of our lives. There are many reasons why we may develop spider veins at some point.

The most common reason that people develop spider veins is increasing age. As we get older, the valves that help ensure proper blood flow throughout our bodies can become worn out. When this happens, they no longer work properly, and allow blood to remain in the leg, thus enlarging and becoming more prominent.

Lack of movement, particularly when it comes to your legs, can also lead to spider veins. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time with your legs folded under you or crossed. Sitting or remaining still for a long period of time makes your veins have to work that much harder to pump the blood out of your legs. This leads to the faster deterioration of those valves.

Obesity is one of the most common risk factors of spider veins on legs. When you are overweight, your heart already has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body simply because it has farther to travel. Your blood pressure will also tend to be higher. This increases the stress that those valves are under.

Many women develop spider veins during their pregnancy. During pregnancy, the volume of the blood in the body increases, which increases pressure on the veins. The enlarging of the uterus as the fetus develops will increase this strain as well. Many women report improvement in their spider veins following delivery, but subsequent pregnancies tend to increase the development of spider veins.

Finally, we come to genetics. There is a hereditary component to the strength of the blood vessels in your body. If your genes dictate that your blood vessels are not as strong as they could be, you are at greater risk for developing spider veins. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you will be able to do in order to prevent this from being a problem.

Spider veins are generally not considered to be dangerous. Varicose veins, on the other hand, can potentially lead to a variety of problems, such as deep vein thrombosis or ulcerous wounds. If you have any concerns, or if you are experiencing discomfort or other symptoms, be sure that you visit your doctor. He will help you with a course of treatment to reduce further symptoms, using compression stockings or lifestyle adjustment and help treat any problems that may develop.