quick clicks

pregnancy today articles

pregnancy today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Taking a Look at Spider Veins

What Causes Enlarged Blood Vessels While Expecting?

By Katherine Bontrager

Plotnick says that many women either initially develop the veins during pregnancy or find that existing spots worsen. "As the uterus grows, it puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which in turn increases pressure in the leg veins," she says. "Additionally, the amount of blood in the body increases when you're pregnant, adding to the burden on the veins. However, just as significant as the growing uterus is the change in hormones that occur. During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone levels rise, causing the walls of the blood vessels to relax and expand."

Since spider veins are extra tiny blood vessels, they aren't needed for normal circulation, says Dr. Kristin Walker, a dermatologist in private practice in Orinda, Calif.

"Pregnancy also causes spider veins because of the increased pressure on the legs because of weight gain," Dr. Walker says. "Other causes of leg veins can be from occupations that require a lot of prolonged standing or pressure on the legs. I've seen it in younger people as well, especially track athletes because of the constant pressure exerted on their legs."

But without question, genetics remains the No. 1 factor for determining whether you'll end up with spider veins or not, Plotnick says. "I would say at least 80 to 90 percent of all women who have spider veins have a parent who has them, too," she says. "And once you have them, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy."

But there are some things that may help prevent the spider veins from getting worse. "Wearing graduated medical compression stockings are very helpful," Plotnick says. "It's also important to remain active, try to keep your legs elevated as much as possible and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time."

"As far as treatment, one can do nothing or undergo sclerotherapy, laser treatment or vascular surgery/vein stripping," Dr. Walker says. "But the gold standard for spider veins is still sclerotherapy. I use hypertonic saline, which irritates the lining of the blood vessels and causes them to shut down, which is fine since these aren't needed for normal circulation. The saline is directly injected into the spider veins, with multiple injections into the legs over one session. Then, over the next two to four weeks, you'll see the vessels disappear. After about four to five weeks, you see your final results, though many people will need touchups every year or so since the constant pressure on the legs from everyday activities can lead to more spider veins."

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
• A Pain in the ... Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
• That Pregnant Glow: Keeping Your Skin Radiant and Healthy
• Mulling Over Melasma: When Pregnancy Increases
  Skin Pigmentation
• Talk about it!