Spider veins are the tiny, red, blue or purplish lines that appear close to the surface of the skin. They occur when the valves in the veins don't function properly, causing blood to pool in the affected area of the veins. That causes the vein to swell, or dilate, and become visible. Spider veins affect the small veins closer to the surface of the skin. They most commonly occur on the legs and face. If the condition occurs in the deeper, large veins, it's called varicose veins.

Spider veins are seen more often in women than in men. According to the

American Society of Plastic Surgeons, at least half of all women have some signs of spider veins. Pregnancy, fluctuating hormone levels,

weight gain and prolonged sitting or standing may increase the risk of

developing spider veins.

But new advancements in laser technology are being used to treat this

often troublesome condition. Doctors, Dermatologists and medical clinics in Chicago are now offering laser treatments for spider veins, facial veins & leg veins.

The Coolglide? laser is one type of laser that can remove unsightly veins from all parts of the body. Spider veins, facial veins and large blue leg veins can be treated with the coolguide last with excellent results. In the Chicago area, Dr. Kenneth L. Stein offers the treatment.

Another facility in Chicago that treats spider veins is the Windy City Vein Center. This clinic uses the Cutera Xeo laser. This laser is effective in treating spider veins of the face & nose. Results with this laser vary but are almost always excellent.

Envy Medspa is offering treatments for residents in the western suburbs of Chicago. Using the Profile Clearscan Laser, Envy Medspa staff are able to safely and effectively treat visible vessels, broken capillaries, spider veins, & other vascular lesions. Clearscan is a new laser using infared energy. Unwanted vessels will be preferentially heated by the laser's energy and become less noticeable, often after just one treatment.