Vein Disease

Spider Veins
Spider veins are small blood vessels just below the surface of the skin. They are usually blue, red or purple. They can have a variety of appearances. Sometimes, they are single, appearing like twigs. Often they form clusters and look like a spider web, hence their name. They may also appear like a bruise or a large blush on the skin. In some patients the cause is venous reflux, as described in the section on varicose veins. However, they are much smaller than varicose veins. Other causes include heredity, pregnancy, hormonal changes and injury. They can be very unsightly but usually do not cause significant medical problems.