Varicose Veins: An Overview
What are varicose veins and spider veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that might be either flesh colored, dark purple or blue. Often having a cord-like appearance, they are sometimes bulging and twisted and are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg and varicose veins commonly form during pregnancy around the anus. Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins and are often red or blue and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. They usually take on a web-like appearance. Spider veins can also be found on the legs and face.
The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. Arteries carry blood from the heart towards the body parts while veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps that prevent the blood from flowing backwards as it moves up the legs. If the one-way valves become weak, blood can leak back into the vein and collect there. Pooled blood enlarges the vein and it becomes varicose. Spider veins can also be caused by the backup of blood.
How common are abnormal leg veins?
Half of American women and almost half of American men suffer from this disorder, and the likelihood of leg veins increases with age.
Who usually has varicose veins and spider veins?
Several factors can either minimize or maximize risk of getting varicose or spider veins, including increasing age, having family members with vein problems or being born with weak vein valves, hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, pregnancy (which causes a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body and enlarging the veins), obesity, leg injury, prolonged standing and other things that weaken vein valves, sun exposure, which can cause spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person, and finally, taking birth control pills and other medicines containing estrogen and progesterone also increase the risk of varicose or spider veins
Why do varicose veins and spider veins usually appear in the legs?
The pressure of body weight, the force of gravity, and the task of carrying blood from the bottom of the body up to the heart make legs the primary location for varicose and spider veins. Leg veins have the toughest job of carrying blood back to the heart compared to other parts of the body, enduring the most pressure. This pressure can be stronger than the veins' one-way valves.
Are varicose veins and spider veins painful or dangerous?
Although spider veins usually don’t need medical treatment, varicose veins usually enlarge and worsen over time and may lead to severe health problems including blood clots, sores, skin ulcers, irritation, and painful rashes.