Spider Veins

Spider veins are usually harmless but can affect the look of your skin. At Vascular & Interventional Specialists in Fort Worth, Texas, board-certified vascular and interventional radiologists Benjamin Wilson, DO, John Yoo, MD, and their advanced practice providers evaluate and treat spider veins. Call today or schedule your spider vein consultation using the online booking button.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are prominent clusters of small abnormal blood vessels in the skin. They appear as red, blue, or purple tortious lines - sometimes bulging and branching and most often found on the legs or face. They are very common, with some studies concluding that most adults will develop some form of spider veins in their lifetime. Thankfully, for most, they are an aesthetic problem as most people do not have any symptoms associated with their spider veins. 

What causes spider veins?

The exact cause of spider veins remains unknown. Many factors have been associated with an increased likelihood of developing spider veins, such as female gender, number of pregnancies, chronic venous insufficiency, obesity, smoking, and certain occupations.

How are spider veins treated?

At VIS, spider veins are obliterated by injecting sclerosing agents into the small vessels. Sclerotherapy is considered to be the first-line treatment for spider veins on the legs. This is done with and without image guidance. The sclerosing agent, which can be a liquid or foam, is injected using a very fine needle. The agent acts by causing damage to the vein wall, leading to vessel fibrosis/scaring. 

Call Vascular & Interventional Specialists today or book an appointment online to learn more about treating spider veins.