Dear DOLLY, I'm starting to get spider veins on my thighs. They're not very visible, but I think they're going to become even more visible. A person in my family has them and they said the only way to get rid of them is to get surgery. What am I going to do? Anonymous
Spider veins are tiny red or blue veins that look a bit like a spider web or hair-like lines randomly underneath the skin. They are dilated veins and can't do their job of helping blood return up to the heart from the legs properly. They are more common on the legs and in women and can appear during puberty - it's thought that the female hormone oestrogen might have something to do with them forming.
They do run in families, and even if you're fit, healthy and do plenty of walking, you might still have a genetic basis for your spider veins. They don't cause any harm to your circulation - the main reason people don't like them is because of their appearance.
Spider veins are related to varicose veins (larger veins that dilate and don't work properly) which can also cause aching if they are particularly large. There is effective treatment for spider veins in the form of injections; it's only in more severe cases of varicose veins that surgery might be necessary.
However because injections or surgery carry a risk of scarring or sensitivity, it's really important to get all the information about these procedures before you make any decisions. My advice would be to wait until you have finished growing and see what happens.
You can help prevent spider veins by walking lots (using leg muscles helps the leg veins get blood up to the heart), maintaining a good diet and being in the healthy weight range. Avoiding wearing high heeled shoes might also help.
