Skin Health More Skin Conditions Causes and Prevention of Varicose and Spider Veins By Tracee Cornforth linkedin Tracee Cornforth is a freelance writer who covers menstruation, menstrual disorders, and other women's health issues. Learn about our editorial process Tracee Cornforth Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD on April 01, 2020 linkedin Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Learn about our Medical Review Board Leah Ansell, MD Updated on August 27, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Appearance and Location Causes Prevention Varicose veins are simply enlarged veins, while spider veins are a smaller version of the same condition, though their appearance is different. Women are about twice as likely to develop this circulatory condition than men. Though unsightly, varicose and spider veins don't always require medical attention. When they do, sclerotherapy is a common treatment. In the most serious cases, surgery may be required. They can cause dull discomfort and may get worse as you age, but severe pain is uncommon. Symptoms of discomfort may include: Swelling in your feet and legsFatigued leg muscles and night cramps An itchy or burning sensation on the skin of your legs and ankles 1:52 Watch Now: Things You Might Not Know About Varicose Veins Appearance and Location Varicose veins have similar characteristics that you can see through your skin: They're red or blue in colorThey have the appearance of cords running just under your skin that may appear to be twisted and bulging This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Varicose veins on a leg. Staras / Getty Images These veins pop-up on various parts of your body, including: The backs of your calvesThe inside of your legsAnywhere from your groin to the ankleIn your vagina or around your anus, during pregnancy Spider veins look similar to varicose veins, but there are differences: They are smallerThey are often red or sometimes blue in colorThey are closer to your skin's surfaceThey look like a spider web with short, jagged linesThey cover either a very small or very large area of skin When checking your body for spider veins, you can often find them on your legs and face. This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Spider veins on a leg. eldemir / Getty Images Causes Your veins are part of your circulatory system. As the blood returns to the heart, healthy, strong veins act as one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backward. When veins weaken, some of the blood can leak backward, collect there, and then become congested or clogged. This causes the vein to abnormally enlarge, resulting in either varicose veins or spider veins. Science has yet to uncover exactly what causes the one-way valves to weaken, but several factors make you more likely to develop them including: Heredity, or being born with weak vein valvesHormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as taking estrogen, progesterone, and birth control pillsPregnancy causes enlarged veins because your blood volume increases significantly Pregnancy makes your uterus larger and puts more pressure on the veins; you may see improvement after delivery Other factors that weaken vein valves and could contribute to the appearance of varicose and spider veins include: AgingObesityLeg injury Prolonged standing—commonly work-related for nurses, teachers, and food service workers Prevention You can try to prevent varicose and spider veins by taking the following steps: Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation, and vein strengthControl your weight to avoid placing too much pressure on your legsDo not cross your legs when sitting and try to elevate your legs when restingWear compression stockingsDo not stand for long periods of time How to Naturally Treat Varicose Veins Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Piazza G. Varicose veins. Circulation. 2014;130(7):582-7. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.008331 Heller JA, Evans NS. Varicose veins. Vasc Med. 2015;20(1):88-90. doi:10.1177/1358863X14566224 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Varicose veins and spider veins. Updated March 1, 2019. Additional Reading UCLA Gonda Venus Center: Symptoms and Diagnosis of Spider Veins WomensHealth.gov: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Fact Sheet (2012).