What Is It? Superficial leg veins, sometimes called "spider
veins" occur when tiny veins congregate below the surface of the
skin, causing red, blue or purple discolorations. Spider veins
get their name from the shape of the discolorations. Some cases
of spider veins can be quite small. Others are more noticeable.
They may make you feel self-conscious, but they are harmless,
and any treatment is usually done for cosmetic reasons only.
Spider veins are most common on the thighs, ankles and calves,
and are more common in women than men. Their cause isn't
completely understood in every case, but they can run in
families. Some cases are related to pregnancy, use of birth
control pills or weight gain. Other types of problematic veins
that can appear similar to spider veins include: -
Telangiectasias, which are dilated capillaries close to the
skin, and tend to be more noticeable on the face, whereas spider
veins more commonly occur on the legs and feet - Hemangiomas and
angiomas, which are made up of very small ar