Telangiectasia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Telangiectasia
Synonyms	Spider veins, angioectasias
Telangiectasia, also known as spider veins, seen on the skin.

Telangiectasias (pronounced tel-an-jee-ek-TAY-zhuhs), more commonly known as spider veins, are tiny blood vessels that have become wider and are visible near the surface of the skin. They often look like thin red, blue, or purple lines, and sometimes they form little web-like shapes, which is why they are called "spider veins."

These tiny vessels can show up anywhere on the body. They are often seen on the face, especially around the nose, cheeks, and chin. They can also appear on the legs, particularly on the upper thigh, behind the knee, and around the ankles.

When spider veins appear on the legs, they can sometimes be a sign of issues with larger, deeper veins. People who have spider veins can talk to special doctors who are experts in vein care to learn more.

Because spider veins are made of tiny blood vessels, they will briefly turn white if you gently press on them before the color returns.

What Causes Spider Veins?

Spider veins can happen for many different reasons. These causes can be grouped into things you are born with (genetic) and things that happen during your life (acquired).

Genetic and Inherited Factors

Sometimes, the tendency to get spider veins can be passed down in families. They can also be part of certain genetic conditions that a person is born with. Some examples include:

• Naevus flammeus: Also known as a port-wine stain, this is a type of birthmark that is made of widened capillaries (tiny blood vessels).
• Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: A genetic disorder that causes blood vessels to form incorrectly.
• Ataxia–telangiectasia: A rare, inherited disease that affects the nervous system, immune system, and other parts of the body.

Vein Problems in the Legs

Spider veins on the legs are often connected to how well the blood is flowing in the larger veins underneath the skin. Inside your leg veins, there are tiny one-way doors called valves. These valves open to let blood flow toward your heart and then close to stop it from flowing backward.

If these valves become weak, blood can leak backward and pool in the vein. This extra pressure can cause the tiny vessels near the skin's surface to widen and become spider veins.

Several things can increase the chances of developing spider veins on the legs:

• Age: As people get older, the valves in their veins can get weaker.
• Gender: Spider veins are very common in both men and women.
• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the body produces more blood to support the growing baby. This, along with hormone changes, can put extra pressure on veins. The growing uterus can also press on veins, making it harder for blood to flow back to the heart.
• Lifestyle: Standing or sitting for very long periods of time can make it harder for blood to move up from the legs, which can increase pressure in the veins.

Other Common Causes

Spider veins can also be caused by other factors, especially on the face and upper body. These include:

• Sun and Weather: Too much sun or exposure to very cold weather can damage the skin and blood vessels.
• Skin Injuries: A bruise or other injury to the skin can sometimes lead to spider veins in that area.
• Rosacea: A common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels on the face.
• Certain Creams: Using strong steroid creams on the skin for a long time can sometimes cause spider veins to form.

How Are Spider Veins Treated?

Before treating spider veins on the legs, a doctor will often want to check the bigger veins underneath. They usually do this with a duplex ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a picture of the veins and check for any blood flow problems. If there is an issue with a deeper vein, the doctor will usually treat that first.

There are two common ways to treat spider veins.

Sclerotherapy

This is the most common treatment for spider veins on the legs. A doctor uses a very thin needle to inject a special solution into the spider vein. This solution causes the walls of the vein to stick together and close. Over the next few weeks, the closed vein fades and is absorbed by the body. More than one treatment session may be needed.

Laser Therapy

Laser treatments are often used for tiny spider veins on the face. A special medical laser sends a strong beam of light onto the vein. The light heats the blood vessel, causing it to seal shut. The sealed vein then slowly disappears. Like sclerotherapy, laser therapy might require a few sessions to get the best results.

It is important to talk with a doctor to decide which treatment is best, as all medical procedures have some risks and possible side effects.