Spider veins are tiny dilated blood vessels that commonly appear in the legs and face. At Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group, serving Beverly Hills and the Greater Los Angeles area from office locations in Beverly Grove, Santa Monica, and Glendale, California, the vascular specialists treat spider veins using simple no-downtime treatments like sclerotherapy. Find out how virtually painless spider vein treatments can help you by calling the office nearest to you or booking online today.
Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are small visible veins that look like spider webs, threads, or tree branches. Usually, spider veins are a bright red color, but they can also be blue or purple. Spider veins are visually prominent but don't push out from your skin.
Spider veins are a milder type of varicose vein. As with spider veins, varicose veins can range in color from red to blue or purple, but they are much larger than spider veins.
Varicose veins are more likely to look like big twisted ropes rather than the delicate networks common of spider veins; they also bulge out from your skin while spider veins never distend the skin.
Varicose veins almost always appear in the legs while spider veins can appear in both the legs and face.
It's rare for spider veins to cause itchiness, burning, swelling, or other types of discomfort. The main problem with spider veins is usually their appearance. These tiny veins can be prominent visually; some feel very self-conscious about this.
As with varicose veins, spider veins happen because of venous insufficiency. With venous insufficiency, your leg vein valves don't work correctly, allowing blood to pool in the vein and show up just under your skin.
Factors contributing to spider veins include:
You're more likely to develop spider veins as you age, but they can appear at any time.
Spider vein treatment depends on their location and your personal preferences.
For spider veins in the face, topical retinoids may help to fade the veins. Minimally invasive options include sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation. Spider veins in the legs typically wash out with Varithena® sclerotherapy, endovenous laser ablation, or radiofrequency ablation.
Spider veins may not be painful, but they can certainly be frustrating. If you're unhappy with the appearance of your spider veins, Vascular Surgery Associates Medical Group is ready to help. Call the office nearest to you or schedule an appointment online today.
