We’ve all heard of spider veins. Many of us have seen these small clusters of blue and purple thin lines on people’s legs. Most of us are also familiar with varicose veins. Varicose veins are much larger than spider veins, bulge on the surface, and usually appear blue, purple or a dull green shade. What about reticular veins? Reticular veins, like spider and varicose veins, are quite common. However, reticular veins are not as often discussed. In today’s post, we are going to learn the differences between the types of veins that affect our legs.

A simple way to tell what type of veins are plaguing your daily life is to notice their size. Spider veins are the smallest of the pesky veins. Regular spider veins are about 1-1.5mm in size. Varicose veins are usually around 2.5mm or bigger. Reticular veins fall in between varicose and spider veins in size. This type of vein is, on average, 2mm in size.

Spider veins and reticular veins are alike, in that they don’t protrude on the surface of the skin like varicose veins do. Spider veins are most common in specific parts of the leg, including the upper thigh, the area around the knee joint, calf and ankles. Reticular veins (also called blue veins or feeder veins) are near the skin’s surface, and are commonly visible to the naked eye. Varicose veins tend to be enlarged, and swollen. Veins that are varicose are usually hard to miss. It’s true that reticular and varicose veins can be deep in the leg’s tissue. If this is the case then they will not appear on the skin’s surface. When these veins are visible, which they generally are, you can decipher between them by inspecting their appearance.

If you experience symptoms of vein disease such as aching, heavy or cramping legs with no visible signs, a doppler ultrasound can identify if there are deeper diseased veins beneath the surface. Veins that are reticular and varicose have parallel symptoms. Leg pain, discomfort, a restless and aching feeling in the legs, are all symptoms of both vein types. Reticular veins tend to contribute to spider veins. Some may call reticular veins, feeder veins, because of the way they feed excess blood into smaller blood vessels, causing spider veins to worsen. Treatment of reticular veins is known to also relieve spider veins.

Reticular veins are caused by the same risk factors that cause varicose and spider veins. Including the following:

Genetics: a family history of varicose, reticular and spider veins.

Hormonal changes

Lack of exercise: causing leg muscles to weaken.

Pregnancy: added pressure on the pelvis puts extra strain on leg veins.

Occupations that require extended periods of sitting or standing.

Luckily, reticular veins are as easy to treat as varicose veins and spider veins. There are newer procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation and ClariVein, that are minimally invasive and virtually painless. The treatment of your reticular veins is a simple, straight forward procedure that can be done in a clinic or doctor’s office using local anesthesia. Dr. Sassan Kaveh can treat your unsightly reticular, varicose or spider veins at Alpha Vein Clinic’s convenient location in Las Vegas. Dr. Kaveh is experienced with all types of vein conditions. From blue reticular veins on the surface to large varicose veins deep under the leg’s fatty tissues. Call Alpha Vein Clinic today at (702) 430 7661 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sassan Kaveh. No matter which kind of diseased vein is causing you stress, Alpha Vein Clinic has the solution.

Alpha Vein Clinic

Vein Clinic Las Vegas

3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400

Las Vegas, NV, 89128

(702) 430 7661

Dr. Sassan Kaveh

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