Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

What causes spider veins?

No one wants spider veins, but it is hard to prevent them when little is known about what causes them.
These small, dilated blood vessels – which sit just under the surface of the skin – can show up on anyone, with little warning and sometimes with very little reasoning.
However, we do know that some genetic and lifestyle factors can at least contribute to the development of spider veins.

What are spider veins?

The medical term is telangiectasia, but you are probably much more familiar with the common name of ‘spider veins’.
By definition, these are damaged, visible blood vessels which lie just beneath the skin’s surface and appear as red, blue or purple in colour. They get their common name of spider veins given they can resemble a spider web, but often these damaged veins might instead look more like tree branches.

How to get rid of spider veins?

These small, dilated blood vessels – which sit just beneath the surface of the skin – can be red, blue or purple in colour and appear as lines or webs on a person’s legs or face While spider veins are usually harmless, many people seek to get rid of them – and there are a few ways that you can do so.

Why are my veins so visible?

Most of our veins are hidden away under our skin and are not too visible on the surface. These blood vessels are constantly at work in the background, carrying deoxygenated blood from various parts of our bodies back to the heart. However, sometimes veins do become very visible – either on a short-term or longer-term basis.

Which varicose vein treatment is best?

If you have developed varicose veins, you don’t need to suffer with them for life. There are a range of varicose vein treatment options available, which can eliminate these swollen, twisted, knobbly eyesores which lie just beneath the skin.

Some people presume that getting rid of varicose veins means going under the knife for surgery, but this isn’t always the case.

When to worry about varicose veins?

Varicose veins are a common condition. These unsightly, bulging veins – which often appear on the legs – are generally seen as a cosmetic issue and are not something to worry about for most people.

Many people seek treatments for varicose veins, based on their appearance, more so than other symptoms or related issues. However, sometimes varicose veins can be related to more serious medical conditions which require attention.

What causes varicose veins?

The veins in our bodies have one-way valves inside them which open and close to carry deoxygenated blood back to our hearts. When the walls of the veins become weakened or are damaged, veins grow in size and these valves don’t function as they should.

As a result, blood can pool inside the veins and cause them to swell, bulge or twist. This leads to what known as varicose veins.

How to treat spider veins?

Spider veins can be an eyesore – especially when they appear on areas of the body that are regularly exposed and are hard to hide.These damaged blood vessels can stand out like a sore thumb, given they lie just beneath the surface of the skin and appear as red, blue or purple in colour.

That is why many people seek to treat their spider veins, with the aim of having them gone.

Can spider veins go away?

If you have suddenly had some spider veins develop somewhere on your body, you are probably wondering whether they will naturally go away. It would be nice if they did, wouldn’t it? But we’ve got bad news for you: In most cases, spider veins don’t go away on their own.