What Causes Spider Veins on the Face and How Can I Avoid Them?
Published January 16, 2023
Anyone can be subject to vein problems. These problems are what people would call venous disorders, and these disorders are often characterized by high-pressure buildups in your veins.
Vein problems are typically quite problematic and may lead to severe issues if left unattended.
For that reason, it makes sense if you want to learn more about spider veins. In that case, you’ve come to the right place. Read on as we talk about what causes spider veins in the face and how you can get rid of them. Let’s start by introducing the idea behind spider veins.
What Are Spider Veins?
As the name implies, spider veins are veins that branch out into multiple veins, creating a branching pattern similar to that of spider webs, hence the name. They’re pretty common and are often superficial, meaning they aren’t harmful. Spider veins are simply unsightly.
However, it’s only natural to worry about the spider veins on the face. After all, you may assume the appearance of spider veins is a symptom of a severe problem, like high blood pressure.
To address your concerns, it would be best to understand what causes spider veins on the face.
What Causes Spider Veins on the Face?
Spider veins take place when your blood isn’t flowing properly, either because of a defective vein or because your blood flow is simply irregular. When that happens, the blood that should have flowed to another vein may build up in a specific vein, making it visible on the surface.
Put simply, anything that can lead to improper blood flow can cause spider veins on your face. That includes unhealthy habits, environmental factors, and even health conditions.
Here’s a look at some of the things that may cause spider veins on the face:
Obesity
When a person is obese, their excess fat will constantly put stress on their veins. As a result, it may not be able to perform its primary function, which is facilitating blood flow, smoothly.
As a consequence, their blood is more likely to get stuck in one place. That, in turn, causes spider veins on various parts of the body, including the face, but more commonly on the legs.
Aging
Your veins have what experts call the valve, which opens and closes alternately.
It opens to let the blood flow, and it closes to prevent blood from flowing back. In other words, valves are an essential part of your veins. Unfortunately, as you age, these valves wear out.
In short, aging increases your chances of developing vein problems, i.e., spider veins.
Injury to the Face
Injuries can damage different parts of the body, including veins and vein valves. And as you may already know, damage to these body parts increases your likelihood of developing spider veins.
Holding in a Sneeze
It has become a habit of many to hold a sneeze when they’re in a public place. Unfortunately, that can lead to several complications, most of which aren’t very harmful. It can, for instance, cause a vein to break, which, as you might expect, can very easily lead to spider veins.
Pregnancy
Sudden hormonal changes can lead to changes in the body as a whole. An increase in estrogen, for instance, can cause veins to dilate, which basically makes them larger or wider.
That alone isn’t harmful, but they do make the veins more visible on the surface.
Hormonal changes don’t typically happen to anyone. Pregnancy is often the most common form of hormonal change that’s enough to cause spider veins and even varicose veins.
Extreme Temperatures
Cold temperatures are believed to reduce the efficiency of a person’s circulatory system.
That’s because, in low temperatures, the circulatory system works harder to keep the body warm. As a result, your blood pressure may increase, and sometimes, your blood can thicken.
Naturally, thicker blood is more prone to getting stuck in certain veins, leading to spider veins.
The same goes for high temperatures. Heat is known to cause blood vessels and veins to dilate, similar to what an increase in estrogen does to the body. And as you may already know, dilation can make the veins more visible on the surface, ultimately causing spider veins.
Medical Conditions
There are also health conditions that have spider veins as one of the symptoms. These include:
- Connective tissue disorders
- Liver diseases
- Rosacea
Though spider veins are generally common, they rarely appear on the face.
They usually appear on your lower extremities. If you sit or stand for long periods of time, for example, spider veins will develop in the legs. Nevertheless, treatments should be the same.
Is There a Way to Prevent Spider Veins on the Face From Developing?
Ultimately, the way to prevent spider veins is to simply avoid the things that cause them to develop in the first place. That’s why knowing what causes spider veins on the face is crucial.
Obesity increases your chances of developing spider veins, so you must make sure to maintain a healthy weight. Face injuries are likewise a possible cause, so you must be careful not to get such injuries. Heat is another cause, so avoiding extreme heat is advisable… and so on.
Of course, there are risk factors that you cannot avoid, like pregnancy and aging. Hence, you can’t really fully prevent spider veins on the face, but that’s okay since they’re often not harmful.
We say “often” because there will still be a chance they are indeed detrimental to your health.
When to See a Doctor
There’s a point where spider veins are likely no longer a simple issue, and you need to call a doctor right away. Below are signs that you are nearing or are already at that point:
- The spider veins cause pain.
- The spider veins look swollen or reddish.
- The spider veins feel warm to the touch, in which case, it might be a blood clot.
- You’re developing rashes around the spider veins.
- The vicinity of the spider veins is changing color.
- They’re preventing you from doing daily activities.
It may cost money, but it’s still best to take precautions to avoid worst-case scenarios.
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About The Author
Lenard Arceo is a professional blogger who is deeply passionate about health and beauty trends. Over the years, he has written articles on a myriad of topics that have helped millions of people.
