If you've noticed tiny, web-like veins appearing on the surface of your skin that are blue or purple, you're not on the path to becoming the next Peter Parker; rather, you are likely seeing spider veins. Unlike , which are larger and often painful, spider veins are smaller and asymptomatic. Spider veins can affect both men and women of any age, although they are more common as you get older.

In particular, spider veins occur most often on the lower limbs, with one study by the reporting their presence in 41 percent of women over 50. Thankfully, spider veins are not the work of science fiction; there are reasons why they occur and methods to treat them. We reached out to two board-certified plastic surgeons to get answers to some of the most-asked questions surrounding the condition.

From how to prevent spider veins to treatment options, keep reading to learn more. , MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery in Missouri.

, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Houston, TX. Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are "small damaged superficial blood vessels in the skin — usually about one milometer deep that branch out creating a spider-like look," board-certified plastic surgeon Deniz Sarhaddi tells PS. They appear on the surface of the skin as thin red or bluish lines and can look like a web or network of tiny vessels.

Most people wonder, are spider veins dangerous? But fear not. "Spider veins are generally asymptomatic and are .