What are spider veins?

Written in association with: Mr Ian Franklin
Published: | Updated: 07/10/2019
Edited by: Bronwen Griffiths

Spider veins (also known as thread veins) are small pink or purple visually prominent blood vessels seen most often on the lower limbs, but they can occur on any part of the body. Their appearance can resemble that of a spider’s web or tree branches. Mr Ian Franklin, an experienced vascular surgeon, explains what spider veins are, their causes, and how they can be treated.

What causes spider veins? Are they a sign of poor circulation?

There is no specific cause of spider veins, but they are much more common in some people than others. They are not harmful in themselves, but they are frequently associated with faulty veins (for example varicose veins) which may or may not be visible in the same limb. Varicose veins can progress to more serious circulation problems, such as leg ulcers. It is important to check the veins inside the leg (usually with a duplex scan) before embarking on treatment for surface thread veins.

What can I do to prevent spider veins?

Thread veins cannot be prevented.

How do you get rid of them? (Is there a spider vein cream, can they go away on their own?)

There is no cream that treats thread veins and they never disappear on their own. The best way to treat thread veins is firstly to assess the lower limb circulation with a duplex scan to make sure the underlying veins are working properly. If any significant disorder is detected, such as varicose-type veins, these should be treated before addressing the thread veins. One analogy to explain this is it is wise to repair the roof of a house before starting the decorating, in order to obtain a durable result.

Is sclerotherapy the best method of treatment?

Sclerotherapy is a very good treatment for thread veins, provided it is done in the right way and provided there is no untreated faulty vein inside the leg contributing to the surface thread veins. Sclerotherapy is sometimes combined with laser treatment to get the best response. One single treatment session is seldom sufficient and the best results are usually achieved by spreading the treatments over a period of time. Using specialist lighting, magnification, tiny needles and high-resolution ultrasound all improve the results of sclerotherapy. Above all, it should not be rushed, but done carefully and meticulously.

This patient underwent sclerotherapy with Mr Ian Franklin, supplemented with laser to treat thread veins.

 

If you have spider veins and would like to enquire about having treatment, make an appointment with Mr Ian Franklin.

By Mr Ian Franklin
Vascular surgery

Mr Ian Franklin is a full-time private venous specialist, whose areas of expertise include varicose and thread veins, aesthetic phlebology, pelvic vein congestion, deep vein thrombosis, phlebitis, leg swelling and leg ulcers. He is also an expert in the management of COVID-related thrombosis.

Mr Franklin practised as an NHS doctor for 23 years, which included 12 years as consultant vascular surgeon at Imperial College NHS Trust where he performed a full range of arterial, venous and emergency vascular surgery. During this time, he also introduced many minimally invasive techniques and treatments to the NHS. For 10 years, Mr Franklin was also a programme director of the world-renowned, annual International Charing Cross Venous Course in which 5,000 surgeons attended every year.

As well as chairing the Circulation Foundation, a UK vascular disease charity, Mr Franklin was a former council member of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland for around 4 years. He is now the President of the Royal Society of Medicine Venous Forum and trains other specialists in modern vein techniques all over the world. Throughout his career, he has also written many scientific papers, book chapters and a surgical textbook.

Mr Franklin is one of a very small number of vascular surgeons in the UK with extensive acute COVID-19 experience. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Ian Franklin returned to the NHS Charing Cross Hospital after suspending his private practice and spent several weeks on the frontline attending COVID-19 patients. During which, it became clear that many of those with COVID-19 develop thrombotic (blood clot) problems that can lead to serious effects on blood circulation. Ian Franklin has now reopened his private practice.

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