What is the Difference Between Spider Veins and Varicose Veins

The key difference between spider veins and varicose veins is that spider veins are smaller red, purple, and blue veins typically present on the legs or face, while varicose veins are bulgy bluish veins typically present on the legs.

Spider veins and varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that normally develop on the legs. Women are more likely to have spider and varicose veins. Pregnancy, old age, and obesity can increase the risk of spider and varicose veins. Moreover, spider veins and varicose veins are painless and do not cause health problems.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Spider Veins 
3. What are Varicose Veins
4. Similarities – Spider Veins and Varicose Veins
5. Spider Veins vs Varicose Veins in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Spider Veins and Varicose Veins

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are smaller red, purple and blue vessels that also twist and turn. Spider veins are easily visible through the skin. They occur due to weakness or damage in the veins. Spider veins may appear in the form of thin lines, webs, or branches. Normally, they are not painful or harmful. But people may undergo treatment for cosmetic reasons. In the legs, spider veins can occur when valves inside the veins stop working. If these valves become weak, the blood may have difficulty flowing in the correct direction and  can begin to pool inside the vein. This causes a bulge in the vein that branches out, resulting in spider veins. On the face, spider veins are a result of tiny blood vessels bursting. The common symptoms of spider veins include heaviness and ache, burning, cramps, swelling, increased pain after sitting or standing for a long time, itching, and skin discolouration. The risk factors for spider veins include obesity, age (older people normally affected), pregnancy, genetics (run in the family), sedentary lifestyle, and gender (females often affected).

The diagnosis of spider veins is carried out through physical examination. Furthermore, treatments for spider veins include compression stockings or socks, sclerotherapy, closure system, laser treatment (endovenous laser therapy- EVLT), and surgery.

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins. They are bulgy bluish veins typically present on the legs. Any veins that are close to the surface of the skin can become varicosed. Varicose veins are commonly present in the legs because standing and walking increase the pressure in the veins of the lower body. Varicose veins are caused by weakened or damaged valves in the veins, resulting in the backward flow of blood and pooling in the veins. This causes veins to stretch or twist. The risk factors for varicose veins include age (older adults affected more), sex (women affected frequently), pregnancy, family history, obesity, and standing or sitting for long periods of time.

The symptoms of varicose veins include veins that are dark purple or blue, veins that appear twisted and bulging, an achy or heavy feeling in the legs, muscle cramping, burning, throbbing, swelling in the lower legs, pain that worsen after standing or sitting for a long time, itching around the veins, and changes in skin colour around varicose veins. Moreover, varicose veins can be diagnosed through physical examination and Doppler ultrasound. Furthermore, treatments for varicose veins include self-care (exercise, raising the legs when sitting or lying down), compression stockings, surgeries such as sclerotherapy, laser treatment,  catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy, high ligation and vein stripping, and ambulatory phlebectomy.

What are the Similarities Between Spider Veins and Varicose Veins?

• Spider veins and varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that normally develop on the legs.
• Both are different forms of a medical condition called venous insufficiency.
• Women are more likely to have spider and varicose veins.
• Pregnancy, old age, family history, and obesity can increase the risk of spider and varicose veins.
• They are treated through self-care and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Spider Veins and Varicose Veins?

Spider veins are smaller red, purple, and blue veins typically present on the legs or face, while varicose veins are bulgy bluish veins typically present on the legs. This is the key difference between spider veins and varicose veins. Furthermore, spider veins in the legs are caused due to weakened or damaged valves of the veins, and spider veins on the face are caused by tiny blood vessels bursting. On the other hand, varicose veins in the legs are caused due to weakened or damaged valves of the veins.

The following table summarizes the difference between spider veins and varicose veins.

Summary – Spider Veins vs Varicose Veins

Spider veins and varicose veins are different forms of a medical condition called venous insufficiency. Spider veins are smaller red, purple, and blue veins typically present on the legs or face, while varicose veins are bulgy bluish veins typically present on the legs. This is the key difference between spider veins and varicose veins.

Reference:

1. “Spider Veins: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Varicose Veins.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Telangiectasias” By Nini00 – Own work — Varizinforma (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Varicose veins” By National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. – Varicous veins. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia