Spider veins, otherwise known as telangiectasia, are often unsightly but are not a serious medical risk. They are dilated, tiny blood vessels near the skin and appear in web-like formations—giving them their name.
Spider veins most frequently occur on the legs, but sometimes may be found in some unlikely places. Usually these are due to other underlying medical conditions.
Also known as thread veins, spider veins that appear on the face usually occur in the cheeks and chin. Mucous membranes are membranes composed of connective tissue that line the body’s cavities. Spider veins can develop on mucous membranes such as the nose, mouth, and eyes.
The formation of these blood vessels is can be caused by a number of things: prolonged exposure to the sun, genetics, aging and thinning skin, medications which dilate vessels, and alcoholism. Other medical conditions like rosacea can make veins more prominent in the face.
Spider veins that occur in the feet are more common in women, but not improbable for men. These veins frequently develop due to pregnancy or a sedentary lifestyle. Lots of pressure and compression on the legs (and thus feet) causes these veins to lose their flexibility, causing them to form hardened and coiled veins under the surface of the skin.
Delicate veins in the face are best treated with a form of laser or light therapy. It is non-invasive and easy; patients simply relax while targeted beams destroy the visible veins. After topical anesthesia is applied, the procedure is fairly painless and takes up to 20 minutes.
Larger veins may require sclerotherapy, a procedure which involves the injection of a scelerosant into the veins via a tiny needle. This solutions breaks down the cell walls of the blood vessels and destroys the vein. Injections only take a few minutes (depending on the amount of veins being treated) and vein elimination occurs over the course of the next few weeks, as they continually break down.
If you have noticed the development of spider veins in an unlikely area, don’t hesitate to call our specialists today! Treatment is available at any of our three locations.
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