Varicose and Thread Veins
At Omniya Clinic in London
What Are Thread Veins?
A common complaint, especially amongst women who suffer from them most, thread veins can prove unsightly for some individuals. Also known as spider veins and dermal flares, thread veins are usually found on the face and legs and can vary in size and colour.
Discomfort and tiredness in the legs can be the result. The thread veins start out as red then change to purple and eventually green in colour – hence the desire in many individuals to have them removed.
What Causes Thread Veins?
Thread veins are the result of enlargement in the veins (telangiectasia). This can be caused in the legs by pregnancy, being overweight, standing too long or hormonal fluctuations. The sun can cause blood vessels to burst in the face, giving them a thread-like appearance on the skin.
The Difference Between Varicose Veins And Thread Veins
Are Thread Veins The Same As Varicose Veins?
Thread veins are a harmless type of varicose veins and appear as small clusters of blue or red veins. They are different from more severe types such as trunk varicose veins, which bulge beneath the surface of the skin and cause swelling, itchiness and chronic pain.
It’s important that you still get tested to see if you could develop the more painful variety of varicose veins in the future.
How Do You Treat Thread Veins?
There are several treatment options to try, with one of the most popular being laser treatment. This involves light passing through the skin and into the blood vessels, causing them to thicken and coagulate. Overtime, the thread veins are dissolved and removed.
Another common treatment is sclerotherapy. This procedure involves injecting a solution into the vein to alter cells and cause a vein to close. Once this happens, the solution is distributed through the body’s immune system.