A 43-year-old member asked:
What are varicose veins and spider veins like?
4 doctor answers • 14 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
42 years experience
A range: They range in size from 0.1 mm to as much as 2 cm or more in size. Spider veins vary in color based on where they are in the skin. The brightest red ones sit on top of the skin. The deeper they are in the skin, the bluer they become. As they become larger and greener, they are called reticular veins. The are under the skin. Larger and squigglier veins are varicose veins.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Steven Zimmetanswered
Aesthetic Medicine 45 years experience
Spider & varicose: Varicose veins are bulging blue veins larger than 3 mm in diameter, almost always found on the legs. Spider veins are red, blue or purple veins on the surface of the skin, up to 1 mm in diameter. They commonly occur on the legs and face, and may be seen elsewhere.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Joel Gotvaldanswered
Vascular Surgery 27 years experience
Varicose Spider Vein: Spider veins are the very small thread sized veins below 1mm located within the skin and are usually red or purple. Varicose veins are the larger blue bulging veins that are serpentine looking, often looking worm-like, located beneath the skin, usually > 3mm. Small blue or purple variocse veins in the range of 1-3mm are referred to as reticular veins. Varicose veins are the most serious of these.
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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. John Landianswered
Phlebology 49 years experience
Several treatments: Varicose veins are due to leaking(refluxing) valves in the saphenous system and spider veins could be due to leaking valves or simply to aging, genetics or pregnancies. The treatment for each varies - laser closure and microphlebectomies for vv and sclerotherapy for spider veins. You should see a vein specialist for a full venous evaluation with a venous reflux ultrasound.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
I think I have spider veins or varicose veins? What do I do?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Craig Carteranswered
Thoracic Surgery 42 years experience
See your doctor: Initial therapy is compression stockings, at least 20- 30 mm Hg pressure. See your doctor for a complete examination and recommendations.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What causes varicose and spider veins?
3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
42 years experience
Heredity: Far and away, the major cause of varicose and spider veins is heredity. Other factors can contribute to their development if you have inherited a tendency to get varicose veins in the first place. These include prolonged standing, age, pregnancy, hormones, and trauma. Surprisingly, obesity has not been shown to be a cause of varicose veins. It does increase the risk of complications though.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How are varicose or spider veins treated?
4 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
42 years experience
Several ways: Spider veins are most commonly treated with sclerotherapy. If you have varicose veins, a combination of things is often used. With varicose veins, it important to have an ultrasound of your veins to see if there is any underlying vein trouble that is causing your visible veins. This is usually treated with endovneous laser or rf. The rest can be treated with phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, or both.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
How do I treat spider/varicose veins on my own?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Scott Welkeranswered
General Surgery 29 years experience
You don't.: There is no safe and effective home remedy for varicose veins. See your dr.!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 13, 2020
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