Not every vein that's visible through the skin is cause for concern, though. To be varicose, a vein must contain stagnant or refluxing blood. Left untreated, these enlarged and weakened veins can lead to complications such as ulcers and phlebitis, in which a vein becomes inflamed and swollen. Easing the Ache Less serious than varicose veins are spider veins, pinkish-red constellations that resemble little fireworks displays. But they are nothing to celebrate.
Spiders form when tiny blood vessels close to the skin's surface dilate or break.
They appear mostly on the face or the legs, but they can pop up anyplace on the body. Many women are embarrassed by the mottled look spiders give their skin. They are not, strictly speaking, varicose veins, and they seldom pose a significant health risk, but they can cause legs to ache after prolonged standing. In recent years, major advancements in laser surgery and sclerotherapy, a relatively painless outpatient procedure in which a special chemical solution is injected into veins to shrink them, have made treatments for spider veins more effective, says Dr. Kligman. Treatment for varicose veins has also improved in recent years.