Menopause
Menopause and hormone imbalances can contribute to the formation of spider veins. In perimenopause, the body responds to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone by causing the walls of arteries and veins to thicken and dilate, leading to hemorrhaging in small capillaries. This bleeding causes the appearance of spider veins. In addition, the decrease in estrogen during menopause will cause blood pressure to drop, increasing blood flow to a woman’s legs and feet. This, coupled with the drop in estrogen, creates an opportunity for rupture in capillaries and tiny blood vessels.
When these ruptures occur, red blood cells leak into surrounding tissues. The body then attacks these red blood cells, triggering inflammation. This inflammation results in additional capillary leakage and swelling under the skin’s surface that makes spider veins appear more prominent than they are. Spider veins are often found on the legs because that is where most people experience a drop in estrogen during menopause.
