Have you come across
network of veins in your body or seen it on someone else and thought that they
are either varicose veins or spider veins? Well, these two terms are
often used interchangeably, but refer to two completely different disorders.
While spider veins are a more common and more mild type of varicose veins, the other
one causes excruciating pain and discomfort. The following pointers will help
differentiate the key differences between the two:
What are the Common Spider Veins Symptoms?
Spider veins also go by
the term “telangiectasias” in the medical circuit. These are clusters of blood
vessels that grow near the skin’s surface. You can easily spot them in the legs
and in the face, where they form blue, red and purple hues in a twisted shape.
It is easy to see them because they are almost next to the skin’s outer
surface. Apart from this, the symptoms of this condition include but are not
limited to the following:
·
Itching sensation
·
Swelling in the area affected
·
Throbbing
·
Burning sensation
·
Aching
·
Tingling sensation
·
Cramping
·
Feeling of Heaviness
This condition is
either caused by venous insufficiency, wherein the vein valves become erroneous
and leads to the swelling in the area and a change in the skin’s appearance, or
by hormones shift, exposure to sun rays or injuries.
What are the Common Varicose Veins Symptoms?
A sizeable number of
the adult population suffer from varicose veins, which are larger in size as
compared to spider veins. When it comes to the appearance, they look the same
but are way more swollen due to several bulging and twisted blood vessels. These
can appear almost anywhere in the body, but are more commonly found in the
legs.
The common symptoms of
varicose veins are:
- Aches and cramps
- Feeling of lethargy
- Burning sensation
- Feeling heavy
- Swelling
- Throbbing sensation
- Restlessness
- Tingling sensation
- Ulcers
- Skin becomes dark
Some people are
genetically predisposed to this condition, with women more likely to develop
it. For instance, women who are experiencing a change in their hormones,
especially during pregnancy or during menopause/in the middle of a menstrual
cycle, will find that the symptoms have aggravated. Obesity, predisposition to
blood clots, skin trauma and vein surgery are some more reasons that can cause
this condition.
If not treated in due time, it can also lead
to a painful blood clot known as thrombophlebitis,
which can increase the vein inflammations further.
Conclusion
These are some of the
key differences between spider veins and varicose veins. We hope that now that
you have a better idea about these two, you can consult a physician who’s
expert in varicose and spider vein treatment in San Antonio and
elsewhere. Need more such write-ups that let you take better care of your
health? Keep a tab on this space as we will be back with more.
