“I pray that someday I can wear shorts or skirts in public again.” I hear this constantly from my sad patients who are so emotionally crippled by their spider and varicose veins that they won’t even wear shorts in private, let alone in public.

Although a patient may be considering the cosmetic value of vein treatment, they should also be concerned with the actual health values.

It may be obvious why major vein problems should be treated, but it’s important to treat minor vein problems as well. Varicose or Spider Vein problems will typically only get worse over time, until what was once a minor issue becomes a major problem. Early treatment is a good safeguard against serious health consequences later on down the road.

To differentiate between the two types, varicose veins occur when the degree of damage to the vein is severe enough to cause it to enlarge and bulge out beyond the surface of the skin. Spider veins, on the other hand, are the tiny blue, red, or purple veins that weave under the skin like a spider’s web.

Many people - both women and men - suffer from varying degrees of varicose and/or spider veins. Their symptoms (particularly with varicose veins) may include: pain, throbbing, cramping, itching, numbness, swollen ankles, or a burning sensation.

In addition a person may experience fatigue, decreased energy levels, and chronic tiredness. In advanced cases, discolorations of the skin and leg ulcers are a manifestation; this is the result of blood actually leaking into the surrounding tissue.

Any of these symptoms, from mild to severe, should be discussed with a physician who has expertise in venous care. Continuous pain in one or both legs can be indicative of a deep thrombosis (blood clot) - see your physician at once.

Although we usually think of vein issues affecting the legs, they also may appear on the face or chest. Regardless of where they materialize, the development of varicose and spider veins can be due to a variety of reasons. The build up of pressure in the veins is the usual culprit behind spider veins.

Varicose veins can be caused by hormonal changes, such as: puberty, birth control pills, pregnancy, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy. Being overweight, receiving an injury to the area, standing or sitting for a prolonged time, and simply getting older may all cause venous trouble. Oh, and let’s not forget Grandma… the bulk of venous troubles are indeed hereditary.