Spider veins on the legs

Spider Veins

About spider veins

Spider veins (medical term: telangiectasias) are small, visible, red, blue or purple blood vessels located just beneath the skin's surface, often on the legs. They typically have a branched, web-like appearance. They are usually seen as a cosmetic concern. Whether there is also an underlying venous problem that should be investigated depends on your symptoms and the findings at a clinical assessment.

The causes are often hereditary, but they can also be provoked by hormonal changes (e.g. pregnancy), prolonged standing, or underlying varicose veins. You can also read about symptoms of varicose veins.

Assessment and treatment at the clinic

We do not offer private self-pay treatment or purely cosmetic procedures, including treatment of spider veins purely for their cosmetic appearance. If the scan shows an underlying venous problem, we assess and treat it on its own medical indication, not in order to remove the spider veins themselves. Spider veins without accompanying venous disease fall outside the clinic's treatment offering.

Different rules on referrals, subsidies and possible co-payments apply to patients in public health insurance group 2. Contact the clinic to clarify the arrangements for your care.

About sclerotherapy (clinical background)

Sclerotherapy is an established method for closing spider veins and smaller superficial vessels: a sclerosing agent (most often polidocanol) is injected directly into the vessel through a fine needle. The agent irritates the vessel wall, causing it to contract, close and turn into a fibrous cord, which the body absorbs over time. The method exists as liquid and foam sclerotherapy, and the choice between them depends on the type and size of the vessel. The information here is clinical background only and is not an offer of treatment for spider veins on their own.

Choosing a treatment

The choice between sclerotherapy, cutaneous laser or no treatment depends on the type, size and location of the vessel, on skin type, symptoms, your goals and the clinical assessment. Thread veins are not covered by the guideline recommendation for endovenous thermal ablation, which applies to truncal reflux in the saphenous veins. Results vary from person to person, several sessions may be needed, and new vessels or recurrence can occur. This is general information and not a treatment offer from the clinic.

Possible complications of sclerotherapy

• Superficial thrombophlebitis: Redness, tenderness, and swelling along the treated vessel. Contact the treatment provider in case of severe pain.
• Ulcers: Can occur, among other things if the agent leaks outside the vessel. Call 112 for breathing problems, severe chest pain or chest pain with breathlessness, fainting or reduced consciousness, major bleeding or rapidly worsening general condition. Outside opening hours, contact the out-of-hours service (1813 in the Capital Region, otherwise your local service) or the nearest emergency department. A planned appointment does not replace urgent assessment.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A serious complication. The risk is higher if larger veins are treated. Symptoms are sudden swelling, warmth, and pain throughout the leg. Seek immediate medical attention or emergency room if suspected.
• Allergic reaction: Possible to the sclerosing agent.