Spider veins are small red, blue or purple capillaries that can be seen through the skin.  They are similar to varicose veins but not as large or painful.  One third of women will experience spider veins.  They tend to show up on the ankles and thighs. 

Spider veins are unsightly and many women look for ways to treat them.  Sometimes they even cause aching, heaviness, and cramping.  They can be caused by hormonal change or weight gain.  During pregnancy many women first notice the appearance of spider veins.  Other possible causes are heredity and standing or sitting for long periods of time. 

Spider veins can be treated with sclerotherapy.  This involves injecting the vein with a solution that causes it to collapse and become invisible.  Sclerotherapy generally makes the spider vein disappear from sight.  It also makes the symptoms go away.  Treatments take less than thirty minutes and are not painful.  Patients may experience minor burning or cramping however.  

If your spider veins are too small for sclerotherapy the next option is laser therapy.  Intense light is used to remove the spider veins.  Laser treatments do work well to eliminate spider veins, but they tend to be more expensive however.

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