What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are tiny branches of blood vessels visible through the skin of the legs. They are smaller than varicose veins and appear bright red, purple, or blue in color.
Spider veins are the result of unhealthy valves that prohibit normal blood flow back to the heart. This backflow of blood can cause the veins just below the surface of the skin to stop working, developing the presence of spider veins. They can happen to anyone but are most common in pregnant women and patients over the age of 50. Other factors include:
- Hereditary and genetic factors
- Prolonged standing
- Being overweight
- Puberty, pregnancy and menopause (hormonal influences)
- Hormone treatment after menopause
- Irregular hormones caused by birth control
- Abdominal pressure from constipation, tight clothing or tumors
- Blood clots
Symptoms of spider veins occur mainly in your legs and in other places such as your face or hands and can include fatigue, aches, pains and a heavy feeling in the legs. Less commonly you may notice swelling or darkening of the skin in the ankles.
Elevating the effective area (above the heart) or wearing support stockings are great ways to lessen your symptoms.
Before we consider any kind of treatment, you will be screened to make sure we completely understand your symptoms. From there, we will perform ultrasound vein mapping, so we can see exactly where the problem veins are located. If treatment is needed, we perform sclerotherapy, the most efficient and effective spider vein treatment option. This procedure is minimally invasive and requires little to no recovery time. In fact, most patients are able to drive themselves home after treatment and typically return to their normal activities the same day.
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Symptoms include:
- Legs that burn, sting, or ache
- Legs hurt after standing for extended periods of time
- A heavy, tired, or restless feeling in your legs
- Swollen ankles
What Causes Spider Veins in Illinois
Valves in your veins should allow blood to flow up towards the heart, then shut tightly between heartbeats to prevent blood from flowing backward. However, when these valves don’t work well, blood can flow backward, causing the blood to collect in the veins of the legs.
Anyone can develop spider veins, however, 50% of women ages 40-50 and around 25% of men ages 30-40 have spider veins. This percentage increases as both men and women age.
Additional risk factors that can cause spider veins include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Blood clots
- Fluctuations in hormone levels
- Trauma
- Standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time
- Being overweight
- Tight clothing
Can You Prevent Spider Veins?
Enacting the following lifestyle changes can help prevent spider veins and ameliorate symptoms:
- Exercising regularly
- Staying at a healthy weight
- Limiting salt intake
- Wearing compression stockings
- Not standing for extended periods of time
What To Expect at Gilvydis Vein Clinic
If you’re experiencing symptoms of spider veins and looking for relief, the expert team at Gilvydis Vein Clinic can help. Our team uses state-of-the-art technology to accurately diagnose and customize your treatment options to achieve the best results.
How Are Spider Veins Diagnosed in Illinois?
Vein disease is progressive and can get worse over time if left untreated. Give yourself a chance to recover sooner by identifying vein disease symptoms early.
Our non-invasive evaluations include:
- A diagnostic ultrasound
- Review of your medical history and any current medications
- Analysis of current symptoms
Spider Vein Treatments
Treating spider veins can help prevent the formation of more serious conditions such as varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Above all, treatment can help get you back to living your life pain-free. Our experts specialize in diagnosing and treating vein disease. Treatments are minimally invasive and include:
Specific problem areas are identified using ultrasound vein mapping. If medical treatment is recommended for your spider vein treatment, sclerotherapy is the most common and effective procedure. During sclerotherapy, a solution is injected into the damaged veins to close them off permanently, making the blood reroute through healthy veins.
Why Choose Us?
Gilyvdis Vein Clinic brings the diagnosis and treatment of vein disease into the 21st century by combining modern technology with advanced techniques.
The Gilvydis Vein Clinic is an accredited facility by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Vascular Testing and in Peripheral Venous Testing. We have the training, expertise, and the latest medical technology to accurately diagnose and provide positive outcomes for our patients.
To learn more about treatment options, schedule a free vein screening at one of our three locations. Click below to learn what you can expect on your first visit, and to see insurance companies that are in our network.
Aftercare
Sclerotherapy is a quick procedure in Illinois, typically lasting 15 to 45 minutes. Prevent dark spots from forming and streamline recovery by wearing compression stockings and avoiding direct sunlight.
Recovery Time
Most patients are able to resume normal activities immediately, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least a week. The specialists at Gilvydis Vein Clinic will direct you on how best to care for yourself after your procedure to get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Read What Our Patients Have to Say
The team at Gilvydis Vein Center has been improving patients’ lives for the past 15 years. We help our patients get back to doing what they love most.
Read testimonials from our clients and see how we can give you a leg up.
Could not say enough about my experience. Awesome staff! If you have any issues with your legs/veins you better go here! Honest and expert advice and treatment.
Featured Patient

Long days of teaching exacerbated the burning and restless feelings in Kendra Brauer’s legs. The bruises and visible veins also provoked curious questions from her second-grade students if she wore anything shorter than full-length pants. Brauer first noticed a bruise on her leg when she was in her mid-20s. Slowly, more veins showed up and […]
Gilvydis Vein Clinic
Locations
1815 Mediterranean Drive, Unit 103
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-981-4742
info@gilvydisvein.com
NAPERVILLE
1003 S Washington St.
Suite 201
Naperville, IL 60540
815-981-4742
info@gilvydisvein.com
GENEVA
2631 Williamsburg Ave.
Suite 202
Geneva, IL 60134
815-981-4742
info@gilvydisvein.com
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