Spider veins on chest are small, thin blood vessels that become more visible near the surface of your skin. Also referred to as telangiectasia, they are often common on the face and legs. Though the spider veins on chest are painless and harmless, it makes people worry about how they look. Sometimes people might experience a slight amount of discomfort or itching.
Spider veins are super common, affecting over 50% of women and individuals who are assigned female at birth (AFAB). Their prevalence increases with age, especially after 80. Plus, they tend to occur more often in women and people AFAB when compared to men and those assigned male at birth.
If you are thinking about what made spider veins appear on your chest and want to learn how to treat or prevent them, this article helps.
Are spider veins and varicose veins the same?
When veins start appearing near your chest, it’s normal to doubt if they’re varicose or spider veins. But remember that spider veins and varicose veins are not the same. Though they are related and involve abnormal blood vessels, they are different.
While spider veins, as the name insists, appear small, thin, and web-like on the skin’s surface, varicose veins are large, swollen, and twisted veins that appear deeper under the skin.
Spider veins appear due to damaged small blood vessels, such as capillaries, venules, and arterioles, that connect the larger blood vessels.
On the other hand, varicose veins occur in veins that carry poor blood and oxygen back toward your heart. Varicose veins appear larger than spider veins and tend to bulge outward from your skin.
What are the causes of spider veins on the chest?
Spider veins can affect you if your family has a history of spider or varicose veins. So, you are more inclined to develop it, especially as you age.
But genetics alone don’t just contribute to this. You also have the chances of risk factors such as:
- A history of blood clots
- Have a BMI that’s greater than 30. This means you are obese, and obesity causes spider veins.
- If you are pregnant, spider veins might start to pop up as a result of hormonal changes.
- Usage of hormonal birth control or undergoing hormonal therapy for menopause symptoms.
- Long exposure of your chest in the sun can weaken blood vessel walls and make them more visible. This is because the UV rays tend to break down collagen and elastin in the skin, which normally provide support to the veins.
- Either you smoke now or have quit smoking.
- Blue chest veins, or spider veins, are also caused by breast augmentation, especially for people who have had silicone or saline breast implants. Because post the procedure, a patient starts noticing that these veins are becoming more visible. Though the reasons behind the appearance of these veins vary, one of the most common ones is the trauma caused by the treatment.
- Spider veins might occur due to certain systemic illnesses such as lupus, scleroderma, fatty liver diseases, and Cushing’s syndrome. Plus, they are more common in people with conditions like deep vein thrombosis, high blood pressure, or liver cirrhosis.
- When you age, your skin naturally becomes thinner and less elastic. This can make the veins on your chest more noticeable.
- Physical trauma or repetitive pressure in the chest area can damage veins and cause them to become more visible.
How are spider veins diagnosed on your chest?
To diagnose spider veins, your vein specialist will physically examine the affected area and thoroughly analyze your medical history and biological family history. This also inquires about your lifestyle choices to learn the cause of the spider veins in your chest.
How to treat spider veins on your chest?
If you are too conscious about your veins on your chest, you can get it removed at the vein treatment center.
Sclerotherapy
This is a minimally invasive treatment. Here, liquid, a saline solution, is injected into the spider veins. The solution can irritate and inflame the affected veins and make them stick together. This way, it prevents the blood flow through them.
Without blood flow, the spider veins will collapse. Depending on the spider veins severity, you should attend several sessions to get rid of it completely.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is a non-invasive treatment recommended only to treat tiny veins that appear closer to the skin’s surface. In this treatment, the laser light is directed into the affected spider veins, making them clot and dry up. But this treatment isn’t successful in treating larger spider veins.
Closure system therapy
This is similar to sclerotherapy treatment, where a solution is injected into the spider veins. The only difference is that in closure system therapy, a thick, sticky substance is used to seal the affected veins. This helps close the vein and stop the blood flow. With time, the affected veins shrink and fade. Closure system therapy also takes a few treatment sessions to get rid of the spider veins.
Endovenous laser therapy
Endovenous laser therapy, or endovenous laser ablation, is one of the important procedures to treat varicose veins. But larger spider veins can use EVLT. In this treatment, a laser fiber is inserted into the affected blood vessel through a small incision. When heat is passed through this insertion, the vein starts to collapse. However, it might take months to completely disappear from your chest.
Since this is an invasive method, it’s treated under local anesthesia.
What to expect post spider veins treatment?
After treating your spider veins on your chest, it’s quite normal to experience some mild and temporary effects on your body until it heals completely.
Most spider vein treatments, such as sclerotherapy or laser therapy, are minimally invasive and have a quick recovery period.
But you are likely to notice slight bruising, swelling, or redness at the treated site. This shouldn’t be a major concern, as they eventually fade within a few days or weeks.
In most cases, the treated spider veins appear darker or more visible. However, they gradually start fading when your body starts absorbing them.
Most people can resume their daily activities post the treatment. But if you have undergone a more invasive treatment, it’s best that you avoid strenuous activities right after the treatment.
How to prevent spider veins on the chest?
Some realistic ways to prevent spider veins from appearing on the chest or at least prevent the existing veins from worsening are:
Wear sunscreen
Since prolonged exposure to the sun can break down collagen and capillaries on your skin’s chest, it’s recommended to use sunscreen. Applying it on the skin can reduce the risk of spider veins. Cover your body.
Exercises regularly
Physical exercise of any kind can greatly contribute to the blood flow and promote the blood vessels health. So, try stretching or walking or any gentle exercises.
Maintain normal weight
Overweight can result in causing spider veins. So, maintain a moderate weight, which can cut down the stress on your blood vessels and in turn prevent spider veins.
Avoid excessive heat
In some cases, hot showers, saunas or any source of excess heat can make your blood vessels swell and even burst. So, if you have veins on chest, it’s good to prevent excessive exposure of heat to your skin.
Avoid tight clothing
Avoid wearing tight clothing, as it can potentially interfere with your normal blood circulation and result in spider veins.
When to call a doctor?
For the most part, spider veins never harm you or cause any discomfort. This is why it is often considered a cosmetic problem. But you should visit your doctor if:
- The spider vein starts appearing swollen or red and feels warm or tender to the touch, as it could be a sign of a blood clot and needs immediate treatment.
- You notice a rash or sores in and around the area of spider veins.
- You spot sudden changes to your skin color.
- You feel some discomfort that interrupts your daily life.
Final Words
Spider veins on the chest are a result of multiple factors such as sun damage, hormonal changes, aging, and genetics, among others.
Though they seem harmless, they can be more of a cosmetic concern; they can still be bothersome for some.
Spider vein treatments are effective, no doubt about that. But they don’t prevent new veins from forming in the future, maybe not in the treated spot. So, ongoing care is important. Protect your skin from excessive sun exposure; wearing tight clothes, such as inners, can affect blood flow. Plus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is mandatory to maintain results.
Now that you are informed about spider veins on the chest, and if you think that you are dealing with the same, visit the Center for Vein Wellness; our vein specialist in Beverly Hills can diagnose the type of vein problem and treat it effectively. Book an appointment and treat the spider veins on the chest.
