Early detection of venous disorders: observe visible changes!
VENENCLINIC St. Gallen
9000 St. Gallen
VENENCLINIC Zurich
8004 Zurich
VENENCLINIC Chur
7000 Chur
VENENCLINIC Engadin
7513 Silvaplana
Spider veins (medical term: telangiectasias) are tiny blood vessels located just beneath the surface of the skin. They appear red, blue or purple and most commonly develop on the legs. Slightly larger superficial veins are known as reticular veins. Both represent the smallest forms of varicose veins.
In most cases, spider veins are medically harmless. However, many people find them cosmetically bothersome and choose to have them treated.
The most common cause is an inherited weakness of the connective tissue and vein walls. When connective tissue is less supportive, small blood vessels are more likely to dilate and become visible beneath the skin.
Hormonal changes can also contribute to the development of spider veins, particularly during pregnancy, while using hormonal contraception or throughout menopause. As a result, women are affected significantly more often than men.
Ageing and the lifelong pressure placed on the leg veins by standing and walking upright also increase the likelihood of developing spider veins over time.
Many commonly cited causes have not been confirmed by scientific evidence. Crossing your legs, lack of exercise or being overweight do not directly cause spider veins. While these factors may worsen existing vein symptoms, they are not considered the underlying cause.
Spider veins are generally medically harmless. However, they can sometimes indicate an underlying venous insufficiency or more significant vein disease. For this reason, it is important to determine whether larger or so-called underlying varicose veins are also present before treatment.
If these underlying veins remain untreated, newly treated spider veins are more likely to reappear.
Before any treatment, we recommend a comprehensive examination using duplex ultrasound. This allows us to determine whether only superficial spider veins are present or whether larger veins should also be treated. An accurate diagnosis is the foundation for long-lasting treatment results.
Several effective treatment options are available today. The most suitable approach depends on the size, colour and type of spider veins. Modern foam sclerotherapy is considered the gold standard for most cases, while specialised vascular laser treatments are particularly effective for very fine red vessels.
Find out which treatment is best suited to your individual situation:
Some patients feel that new spider veins appear during treatment. It is not uncommon for them to believe this is related to foam sclerotherapy and/or laser treatment. In most cases, this perception occurs because patients begin to observe their legs more closely: areas that were already present and visible are suddenly noticed for the first time.
Spider veins can reappear at any time, usually in different areas. However, results tend to last longer when treatment is started early – meaning when fewer spider veins were visible initially.
Unfortunately, there are no reliable preventive measures. Whether you cross your legs, are overweight, exercise a lot or little, smoke, or expose yourself to the sun has no proven effect. The only theoretical prevention would be wearing extremely tight thigh-high compression stockings (class IV) year-round, which is not practical due to significant impact on quality of life.
Compression stockings are NOT required with our spider vein treatments. The vessel closure reaction after foam and/or laser treatment is strong enough that additional compression is not needed.
Spider veins are very fine, superficial blood vessels that appear as red, bluish, or violet lines – most commonly on the legs. Medically, they are called telangiectasias. They represent the smallest form of varicose veins but are medically harmless and primarily a cosmetic concern.
The main cause is a genetic predisposition. Hormonal factors (pregnancy, contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy), connective tissue weakness, age, and female gender also play a role. Physical activity, diet, or body weight are usually not decisive factors.
No. Spider veins are medically harmless and usually do not cause serious health problems. However, a ultrasound examination should always be performed before treatment to rule out deeper venous issues.
No. This position may temporarily increase a feeling of heaviness but does not cause permanent dilation of blood vessels. Spider veins result from genetic and hormonal factors, not from sitting habits.
Foam sclerotherapy is considered the gold standard. A special foam is injected into the vessels to close them precisely. The body then gradually breaks down the treated vessels. The method is effective, precise, and cost-efficient.
One session is usually not sufficient. The amount of foam is limited for safety reasons, and the body’s response varies. On average, 5–6 sessions are required, and more may be needed in more pronounced cases.
The treatment is generally well tolerated and minimally painful. Very fine needles are used, and the foam may cause only a mild burning sensation. Small bruises or slight hardening may occur afterward but are harmless.
Usually not. Spider veins are very small, superficial vessels. Medical compression stockings do not provide sufficient pressure at the skin surface to effectively influence these vessels.
Treated vessels disappear permanently. However, new spider veins may develop in other areas due to the underlying genetic predisposition. True prevention is therefore not possible.
We understand that an aesthetic treatment needs to be carefully considered. We are therefore happy to take the time to answer all your questions during a no-obligation initial consultation. Arrange your consultation appointment at one of our VENENCLINICs today.
If you would like a brief online preliminary clarification before your consultation, you can also contact us by e-mail.
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