Spider Veins in Legs & Varicose Veins Treatment [Causes & Symptoms]

Spider veins (telangiectasias) are damaged, visible blood vessels just beneath your skin’s surface. They typically look red, blue or purple. They may appear in clusters that resemble spider webs or tree branches. Spider veins can form anywhere, but they usually develop in your legs or face.

Spider veins are typically harmless. They only need treatment if you don’t like the way they look.

Spider veins are mostly a cosmetic issue, meaning you might not like their appearance, but they won’t harm you.

Sometimes, though, spider veins are an early sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This is a vein disease that can affect your quality of life and lead to complications.

If you notice spider veins, talk to a healthcare provider. They can give you a physical exam and check to see if you have risk factors for CVI.

Spider veins are common. They affect more than 50% of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB), and they become even more common after age 80.

Spider veins are more common among women and people AFAB compared with men and people assigned male at birth.

Varicose veins are damaged veins. Veins are larger blood vessels that carry oxygen-poor blood back toward your heart. Varicose veins are usually larger than spider veins and tend to bulge outward from your skin.

Spider veins rarely cause symptoms, and people seek treatment for cosmetic reasons. Varicose veins often cause symptoms like leg pain and discomfort. So, people seek varicose vein treatment for cosmetic reasons or to ease symptoms.

Spider veins form when small blood vessels just under your skin weaken and expand. It’s not always clear what causes this to happen. Some known causes include:

To diagnose spider veins, a healthcare provider will:

  • Perform a physical exam.
  • Ask about your medical history and biological family history.

Your provider will look for signs of CVI to determine if your spider veins signal a more serious blood flow problem. If you have CVI, you may need to see a vascular surgeon for further evaluation and treatment.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24567-spider-veins