Thread veins, also sometimes called “spider veins”, are very fine red, blue or purple coloured veins which are visible on the surface of the skin. They most commonly appear on the face and legs.
There is no definite cause for thread veins – anyone can get them, although they are more common in women than in men. Age may play a part, as our blood vessels become less elastic over time. Hormonal changes are also thought to have an affect, which is why pregnant and menopausal women are more prone to them. They can also be hereditary. Spending a lot of time standing up does not actually cause thread veins to develop but it can make existing thread veins worse.
While they are not considered to be a serious medical condition, they can still cause distress to those who suffer with them, as they are not easily concealed. Over time, they can increase in size and number, making them more difficult to treat. For this reason it is much better to get them treated early.
Thread Veins Treatment
This is a treatment that has been performed since the 1920s and is extremely effective. At Woodlands, sclerotherapy is used to treat thread veins on the legs. A fine needle is inserted into the thread vein and it is injected with a sclerosing agent, which causes the walls of the vein to shrink together and eventually shut down completely.
