Thread veins
Thread veins, commonly called spider veins, are tiny prominent veins just below the skin surface.
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What are Thread Veins?
As we get older changes occur in our skin. Skin becomes thinner and more fragile, and subcutaneous tissue, that also gets thinner, causes blood vessels under the skin to become more obvious. Thread veins, commonly called spider veins, are tiny prominent veins just below the skin surface.
They tend to branch and give a spidery sort of pattern, hence their common name. Spider veins can occur anywhere on the body, but most often on the legs and face.
Thread veins do not usually signify any underlying medical problem although on the face they can be due to acne rosacea. However most women and men find them quite unsightly and many patients present to the clinic looking for treatment.
The cause of thread veins is multifactorial; genetics, age, smoking and sun worshiping all play a role. They tend to run in families and often appear in pregnancy. In the legs if there are underlying varicose veins these usually need to be treated surgically beforehand to ensure good results.
Treatment
The first step is to book in for a Dermatology Consultation with one of our doctors. They will provide an in-depth which does and in-depth analysis of your skin. They will then make a diagnosis and advise on appropriate treatment. If there is an underlying skin disorder it is important to treat this first, sometimes antibiotics will be required. Other factors like wearing daily sunscreen and topical vitamin C will also be discussed.
There are many different treatments available for redness and thread veins on the face, body and legs. IPL laser, Pulsed Dye Laser, Dermarolling, micro-needle fractional radio frequency & Sclerotherapy are all available at The Adare Clinic.
Diagnosis
In some cases, particularly if there is concern about underlying venous insufficiency (when veins don’t efficiently return blood to the heart), your doctor may recommend a Doppler ultrasound. This non-invasive test uses sound waves to create images of the blood flow in the veins and can help identify:
- Leaky veins: If blood is flowing backward in veins, which can lead to further vein problems.
- Venous insufficiency: Poor blood circulation that can contribute to the development of thread veins.
- Varicose veins: More prominent, larger veins that may be related to the formation of smaller thread veins.
Consultation
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The Adare Clinic is a patient-focused dermatology clinic