Are Facial and Foot Veins the Same as Spider Veins?

Are Facial and Foot Veins the Same as Spider Veins?

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Texas Vein & Wellness Institute

Spider veins are tiny clusters of blue, red and purple veins that appear most commonly on the legs and are often painless. Are similar veins on the face and feet the same? Read on to learn more about facial and foot veins and how they are treated. 

Facial veins

Facial veins are the same as spider veins on the face. They are also called spider angiomas or telangiectasias. These usually harmless clusters of tiny veins appear just under the surface of the skin, and have an undesirable appearance even though they don’t cause any pain. 

Causes

Spider veins on the legs are caused by aging, heredity, pregnancy, sun damage and occupations that require lots of standing. On the face, however, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to spider veins. 

Foot veins

Arteries carry blood away from the heart and to the extremities, while the veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. With age, the valves that prevent backflow in the veins start allowing leakage and allows blood to pool, leading to spider veins and painful varicose veins. 

The feet are the farthest distance from the heart, so they are prone to backflow as well. This leads to small diseased veins revealing themselves through the surface of the skin. 

Risk factors

Risk factors or developing spider veins in the face and foot are the same as with the legs. Heredity, obesity, gender, hormonal changes from contraception and pregnancy can contribute. Prolonged standing is another cause. Sun damage is a major risk factor for spider veins on the face. 

Treatment options

Sclerotherapy is effective treatment of spider veins on the legs and feet. It consists of using a very fine needle to inject a sclerosant solution into the diseased vein, irritating the wall of the vein and causing it to collapse. This closes off the vein and the body disposes it over time. 

Laser therapy is most effective for treatment of spider veins on the face. A quick pulse of laser energy is delivered into the diseased vein, which absorbs the light energy and converts it to heat. This causes the vein wall to collapse and close off.