Those blue bulging veins, which protrude from the skin, usually on the legs and thighs are called varicose veins. Spider veins are smaller, but also appear on the skin's surface. These look like short, fine lines, "starburst" clusters, or a web-like maze. Spider veins usually appear on the face, thighs, ankles, and feet. Millions of women, are not only disfigured, but the feeling of tired, heavy, aching legs can take the pleasure out of everyday activities. While all of the causes of varicose and spider veins are not understood. The basic problem is that veins usually in the lower part of the body become engorged when blood does not circulate properly. The absence or weakness of valves in the veins, which prevent the backward flow of blood away from the heart, may cause poor circulation. In other cases, weaknesses in the vein walls may cause the pooling of the blood. Less commonly, diseases such as phlebitis or congenital abnormalities of the veins cause varicose veins. Venous disease generally worsens with time. In severe cases, varicose veins can rupture, or open sores (called "ulcers") can form on the skin

Varicose veins, for a number of reasons, are more common in women, though men can also develop them. They can also appear or worsen during pregnancy, when the growing uterus places extra pressure on the veins. And they tend to run in families, so if everyone in your family has them, you are also likely to have varicose veins. You may feel better if you avoid standing for long periods of time, so try to stay off your feet as much as possible and sit with your legs raised. Taking regular walks, and resting with your feet elevated, may improve circulation and reduce symptoms. Wearing support hose is a good way to provide support for the veins. If you have them, put them in the morning upon rising before blood and fluid have pooled in your feet and ankles.

Once you develop varicose veins, they're not likely to go away on their own. Varicose and spider veins are usually just annoying, and don't have to be treated unless you are bothered by your appearance, or the symptoms associated with them. Severe cases of varicose veins, especially those involving ulcers, usually require treatment. The method you select for treating venous disease should be based on the size and location of the veins to be treated. Surgically removal or chemically treating the "bad" veins treats large varicose veins. This forces the blood to flow through the remaining healthy veins.

Surgery is used to treat large varicose veins, and is commonly referred to as "stripping". It is performed under local anesthesia and requires only very small incisions, which leave few scars. Here, the varicose veins are "stripped" out by passing a flexible device through the vein and removing it through an incision near the groin. Smaller tributaries of these veins also are stripped with this device or removed through a series of small incisions. Those veins that connect to the deeper veins are then tied off. This stripping method has been used since the 1950's.

Spider veins cannot be removed through surgery. Sometimes, they disappear when the larger varicose veins feeding the spider veins are removed. The remaining spider veins also can be treated with "sclerotherapy, this is a non-surgical procedure." "Sclerotherapy" uses a fine needle to inject a solution directly into the vein. This solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing inflammation, which blocks the flow of blood. After the solution is injected, the vein's surrounding tissue is generally wrapped in compression bandages for several days, causing the vein walls to stick together. The vein turns into scar tissue that fades from view. Patients whose legs have been treated are put on walking regimens, which improves circulation and prevents blood clots. This method has been used since the 1920's. Laser treatments are very effective for treating the smallest, less than one millimeter, spider veins, especially on the face.

In most cases, more than one treatment session will be required, because these procedures only treat those veins that are currently visible. Because venous disease is typically progressive, no treatment can prevent the appearance of new veins from surfacing in the future. There are many factors, which will affect the rate at which treated veins recur.

If you've been hiding your varicose veins, you'll now be able to show off your legs. Most patients are pleased with the treatments and think their legs are healthier looking afterwards. Just as importantly, the symptoms associated with varicose veins also improve after treatment.