Say Goodbye to Your Spider Veins Spider veins appear right
beneath the skin’s surface and are often red, blue or purple in
color. Spider veins usually appear as small, thin, jagged lines
that sometimes resemble tree branches or spider webs. They are
usually present on the face or the legs. The main difference
between spider veins and varicose veins is size — spider veins
are smaller than varicose veins. They both occur as a result of
pooling of blood in the veins, which is caused by weak or
damaged vein valves. Veins direct blood back to the heart from
the rest of the body. As leg muscles contract, blood is pushed
back to the heart against the flow of gravity. Leg veins have
valves that prevent the blood from coming back down, but if a
valve is weak or damaged, blood can get through and accumulate.
This pooling of blood creates both spider and varicose veins.
There are a number of factors that contribute to a person’s
chances of getting spider veins: - Hormonal changes, especially
during pregnancy - Standing