Spider veins are small blue or red veins located just below the outer surface of the skin. They often have a web-like appearance, hence, the term spider vein. Most spider veins have an unattractive cosmetic effect and, in some cases, may give rise to symptoms such as itching, burning, or throbbing of the legs. Veins are arranged in layers within and under the skin.
The very smallest type of veins are on the surface, these veins drain into slightly larger veins, called reticular veins, which lie deeper within the skin. Faulty reticular veins often act as “feeding” veins to the smaller superficial spider veins. The most prominent reticular vein is the lateral vein of the thigh. This vein is often involved in causing spider veins of the outside thigh. Treating the smaller veins on the surface, without addressing this important vein, leads to poor treatment results.
Most spider veins do not cause any symptoms apart from the cosmetic issues. Some patients will report burning or itching in their larger spider veins. These symptoms are often worse on warm days or with monthly menses in women. The actual vein, in a spider vein, is translucent, the colour that is observed depends on the colour of the blood flowing through the vein.
Very small superficial spider veins are red, and can often look like a bruise. Larger spider veins, located deeper within the skin, often have a blueish appearance. In spider vein patients with leg pain, swelling, heaviness, restlessness and skin changes, another cause for the veins should be sought. These patients often have undiagnosed venous reflux, and would require treatment of the underlying reflux, prior to having their spider veins treated.
The main cause is a strong genetic predisposition. There are many myths around the causes for spider veins. Some of these include crossing your legs, wearing high heels, taking vey hot baths and wearing tight clothes. Unfortunately, there is no strong scientific data to support this.
At The Vein Clinic, we specialize in the treatment of spider veins using micro sclerotherapy, the global gold standard for this condition. Our protocols are tailored to each patient’s vein characteristics, ensuring optimal outcomes. We exclusively use medical-grade sclerosants, avoiding outdated treatments like salt or sugar water. While most patients experience long-term success, spider veins may reoccur due to factors like pregnancy or hormonal changes. Like dental care, maintaining vein health may require ongoing treatment.
Venous duplex ultrasound scanning is the current gold standard in the diagnosis of vein disease. It involves the use of an ultrasound machine and high frequency probe to accurately asses the anatomy of your veins as well as the flow patterns within them. Ultrasound scanners do not produce any radiation (unlike x-rays) and they don’t involve needles or injections. Hand-held dopplers are not used in our vein centres as they are inaccurate.
Every new patient will undergo a duplex examination prior to any treatment planning. Not accurately diagnosing underlying vein problems will lead to sub-optimal treatment outcomes. This is often why we see patients who have been treated elsewhere, that presents with a worsening in their veins.
Our current understanding of spider veins would suggest that you cannot prevent spider veins from forming.