“Are varicose veins the same thing as spider veins?”
The veins in my legs look dark and enlarged. Does that mean that I have varicose veins or spider veins? What are the treatment options?
2 Answers
On a simplistic answer to this question, spider veins are just smaller varicose veins.
Most visible veins of the lower body are considered varicose, regardless of size. The underlying pathophysiology is always of valve dysfunction. The valves become incompetent, and blood begins flowing out and down the leg. Blood should generally flow only toward the deep veins and up toward the heart.
