Spider Veins On Your Face: What Causes Them & How To Treat Them

Written by Aaron Guldager — January 19, 2018

Spider Veins On Your Face: What Causes Them & How To Treat Them

It’s tough to think fondly of spiders. The eight-legged critters are not known for being particularly cute or cuddly. That’s why you wouldn’t want to have spiders in your home or spider webs on your porch. And you definitely do not want to see spider veins on your face.

But if you have started noticing spider veins, don’t freak out! It’s a common condition. In fact, one study in Scotland found that 88 percent of women had spider veins on their legs. It’s not clear if spider veins are equally common on women’s faces, but the point stands: if you’ve got spider veins, you’re definitely not alone.

In this article, the beauty experts at SiO will tell you everything you need to know about spider veins. First, we’ll explain what spider veins are and how they’re different from varicose veins. Then we’ll tell you what causes them to appear on your face. Last, but definitely not least, we’ll tell you all the best ways to make those itsy-bitsy blemishes disappear.

What Are Spider Veins?

The official medical term for spider veins is telangiectasia. But you don’t really need to know that because these little blotches are almost always called spider veins. As you can probably guess, they’ve earned this nickname because their appearance resembles a spider’s web.

So what exactly are spider veins? They’re small, dilated blood vessels that lie in the outermost layers of your skin. They’re visible specifically because of how close they are to your skin’s surface.

If there’s one good thing about spider veins—and we hesitate to say that there is—it’s that they don’t pose any serious health risks. Mostly, they’re just unsightly and can make you feel self-conscious. And that would be a real problem if there weren’t several easy ways to get rid of them. Fortunately, there are! But more on that later.

While spider veins are often confused with varicose veins, they are actually two different conditions.

Spider veins on woman's leg

How Are Spider Veins Different From Varicose Veins?

Spider veins and varicose veins are both caused by enlarged blood vessels, but they aren’t exactly the same. So what makes them different? There are two things that distinguish spider veins from varicose veins: the size of the dilated blood vessels and their proximity to your skin’s surface.

Varicose veins are larger and deeper in your body than spider veins. That’s why they tend to show up on your legs, where your body’s largest veins reside. Varicose veins usually appear as bold, blue or purple lines. They may only be a few inches long, or they may run the entire length of your leg. And sometimes they cause aches and pains. Ouch.

Spider veins, on the other hand, are smaller and closer to the surface of your skin. They can sometimes occur on your legs, but they’re usually found around your eyes, neck, chin, and cheeks—which is way more annoying. Spider veins typically form in small blotches. They may be as tiny as a pea but can sometimes be much larger.

The coloration of spider veins is usually red, purple, or blue. But you can ignore the color because the different hues don’t really mean anything. They’re just caused by things like your skin type and the amount of melanin in your skin. Finally, spider veins do not ache or cause pain. If you have spider veins on your face that hurt, you should head to the doctor’s office as soon as possible.

Woman with no spider veins on face

What Causes Spider Veins On Your Face?

OK, so now we know what spider veins are. They’re small, dilated blood vessels that sit close to the surface of your skin. But what does that really mean? Let’s dig a little deeper.

Your circulatory system pumps blood through your body. This system is vital because every organ, muscle, and layer of tissue needs blood to function properly. Blood carries oxygen, amino acids, electrolytes, and other essential nutrients to every part of your body.

There are three types of blood vessels that the circulatory system uses to send blood through your body: arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries and veins can be thought of as the main highways of blood transportation. Capillaries are like the small streets and avenues that make up cities and towns.

Circulation image

So, what does all of this have to do with spider veins on your face? Well, spider veins form when the capillaries in the skin on your face become dilated. This happens for two main reasons. The first is poor circulation, which causes blood to pool up in your capillaries. The second is aging and skin damage, which makes your capillaries loosen and expand.

Here’s are some of the factors that contribute to poor blood circulation and damaged capillaries:

  • Genetics
  • A lack of exercise
  • Being overweight 
  • Excessive exposure to the sun
  • Smoking tobacco products
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Natural effects of aging
  • Having thin, damaged skin

Although you can’t change your genes, you can control many of these factors. Getting plenty of exercise and avoiding too much time in the sun are easy steps you can take to eliminate spider veins.

What about the effects of aging and damaged facial skin? For that, there are SiO Beauty patches. These little saviors have been proven in clinical trials to increase hydration and reduce wrinkles overnight. All you need to do is apply the patches after you’ve washed your face in the evening. Then just get some beauty sleep and let these incredible patches do the rest! Waking up to skin that is healthy, smooth, and glowing has never been easier.

What Are The Best Ways To Treat Spider Veins On Your Face?

Here at SiO Beauty, we prefer natural remedies because they’re effective, safe, and affordable. Why tolerate nasty side effects and health risks if you don’t need to?

SiO Beauty Patches

One super easy way to rejuvenate and hydrate your skin is to wear SiO Beauty patches every night. They’re made from a natural, medical-grade silicone that locks in moisture and provides amazing results.

Speaking of which, SiO’s medical adviser, an NYC-based cosmetic dermatologist named Dr. Dendy Engelman, is adamant about the real results our patches provide. Dr. Dendy says that for patients who “are hesitant to use injectables, such as Botox, that prevent wrinkles, the SiO Beauty patches are the closest, most effective alternate at home solution.” We couldn’t agree more! (And the science agrees with us, too.)

SiO Beauty makes BrowLift patches for your forehead, Eye & Smile Lift patches for the areas next to your eyes and mouth, and NeckLift patches for your neck. We also have the SiO SkinPad for your décolleté.

Natural Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies are a great way to get rid of spider veins on your face. These are some of the amazing natural ingredients that you can use.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Soak a cloth in raw apple cider vinegar, and let the cloth rest on top of the affected area for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with clean water afterward.

Witch Hazel

Apply a Witch Hazel cream or alcohol-free witch hazel water directly to the spider veins on your face.

Horse Chestnut Extract

Take a daily horse chestnut extract supplement.

Butcher's Broom

Use either a Butcher’s Broom oil or, if you prefer, take an oral supplement.

Mustard Oil or Sesame Oil

Add several drops of mustard oil or sesame oil to a carrier oil, like olive or coconut oil, then apply directly to the area of your face with spider veins.
All of these natural remedies help eliminate spider veins by improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation. Wonderful benefits, no harmful side effects!

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Day-to-day lifestyle choices have a huge impact on your health—not just for spider veins, but for practically every aspect of your well-being! Here are some easy ways to stay healthy and treat the spider veins on your face.

  • Keep a healthy anti-aging diet.
  • Get plenty of beauty sleep every night.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
  • Exercise for 30 minutes at least three times per week.
  • Take wonderful care of your skin!

Remember to follow these simple steps and you’ll be feeling and looking younger in no time! With healthy habits and the natural herbal remedies we mentioned, you’ll be able to cast away the spider veins on your face. And if you want to wake up to radiant skin that’s as soft as a spider’s silken web, start using SiO Beauty patches now.