University Surgical: Spider Veins

Spider Veins

Spider veins, also known as “telangiectasias or sunburst varicosities,” are tiny broken capillary veins. They lie underneath the surface of the skin and can appear blue, red or purple.

Spider veins take on one of three basic patterns. They appear in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point; they may be arborizing and resemble tiny branch-like shapes; or they may be linear and appear as thin separate lines.

Linear spider veins are commonly seen on the inner knee, whereas the arborizing pattern often appears on the outer thigh in a sunburst or cartwheel distribution.

A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, the use of certain medications, sun exposure and trauma. They may cause tenderness, aching, burning or stinging over the area.