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RED SPOTS & SPIDER VEINS
WHAT ARE SPIDER VEINS?
Usually found on the legs and face, spider veins are red, blue, or purple veins that twist and turn near the surface of the skin and thus are visible.
Typically, they are harmless however treatments are available to make them less visible for aesthetic purposes, particularly when they are found on the face.
WHAT CAUSES SPIDER VEINS?
As the valves in blood vessels become damaged or weaken, some blood can pool in the vein rather than towards the heart.
As pressure builds, the walls of the vein weaken and the vein expands, making it visible through the skin.
The presence of these veins has been linked to aging, sun exposure, genetics, alcohol use, and many more factors.
SPIDER VEIN TREATMENT
Historically, treatment was often sclerotherapy, where a medical practitioner injects medication into the enlarged blood vessel to make it constrict.
These days, many more options are available, such as radiofrequency ablation and intense pulse light.