Will Spider Veins Go Away on Their Own?

Spider veins are often permanent unless you seek treatment. Fortunately, modern lasers give you a way to clear them.

You know that your blood vessels play a key role in keeping you alive and functioning. Your body contains 60,000 miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries to circulate blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout your system.

Fortunately, with so many pathways, an issue in one or a handful of blood vessels doesn’t typically pose a serious health risk.

With spider veins, for example, you have weakness or damage in the capillaries (thin blood vessels) just under your skin. That doesn’t pose a threat to your overall blood flow, but it does cause a cosmetic issue.

If you’re bothered by spider veins, you’re probably wondering what you can do about them. Jean Johnson, MD, provides laser vein removal at Rejuvenation For Her in Weston, Florida. Let’s take a look at whether or not that kind of treatment could be right for you.

How spider veins develop and why they usually last

When you can see the blood vessel under the surface of your skin, it’s usually because there’s a problem. With spider veins, weakened or damaged vein walls make the vessel more visible at the skin’s surface.

In your legs, spider veins can develop when increased pressure from prolonged sitting, standing, or excess weight strains your veins. On your face, they’re more often linked to sun damage or factors you can’t control, such as genetics.

Regardless, once a spider vein forms, it usually doesn’t fade on its own. If the spider vein is caused by a temporary factor — such as pregnancy or certain medications — the vein may improve once that factor is resolved. Usually, though, spider veins are permanent.

They typically don’t pose any health risk. But if their appearance bothers you, Dr. Johnson can help.

What to expect with laser vein removal

Dr. Johnson offers laser vein removal at our office. During treatment, she uses a specialized laser to target the visible blood vessels. The spider veins absorb the heat from the laser, causing them to collapse.

Once closed, your body reroutes blood using the many other pathways it has available. Then, your system slowly absorbs the now-defunct spider veins, making them less visible over time.

Spider vein treatment usually takes about half an hour. Multiple sessions (typically 2–3) help you get the best results.

You don’t need to worry about any downtime after laser vein removal, but you should protect the treated area from sun exposure for a few weeks.

You should see full results from your laser spider vein removal within three months or less. If you want to feel more confident in shorts this summer, don’t wait to talk to Dr. Johnson.

Call our office or use our online tool to book an appointment today.