CONDITIONS TREATED

Thread Veins

What are Thread Veins?

These are small veins just under the skin which have become dilated and, as you age and your skin thins and becomes more transparent, these veins become more noticeable. You may notice thread veins on your face, body or legs. They can be red, bluish or purple and typically about 1mm thick. They may be cosmetically embarrassing, but rarely cause any discomfort. Their cause is unknown but may be the result of smoking or alcohol, hormonal changes, prolonged standing, or possibly inherited.

What symptoms may I have?

It's very unusual for thread veins to cause localized pain, so if your thread veins hurt it's best to get checked out in case the vein is varicose or you have a more serious blood flow problem.

Diagnosis

Underlying medical condition, a medical consultation with duplex scan (a type of ultrasound) examination may help identify a treatment if you think your veins are unsightly.

Treatment/Surgical Intervention

If you also suffer from varicose veins, these should be treated first, otherwise the thread veins may reoccur after treatment. The same injection sclerotherapy can be used for both larger thread veins and varicose veins. For smaller thread veins, microsclerotherapy or laser treatment may be recommended to collapse the veins which are then gradually absorbed by the body and are no longer visible. Some people tend to produce new unwanted veins over time which may also require treatment.