What are the risk factors for spider veins?

Spider veins are small visible blood vessels close to the skin. Family tendency can make them more likely. Age-related changes may weaken vein walls or valves, while pregnancy and other hormonal shifts can alter blood flow and pressure. Standing or sitting for long periods can increase pressure in leg veins, particularly when combined with limited movement. Sun exposure can encourage facial thread veins, and skin conditions such as rosacea may be associated with visible facial vessels. Spider veins are different from larger, raised varicose veins, although both can occur in the same person.

Move your ankles and legs regularly during long periods of sitting or standing, and walk when possible. Maintaining a comfortable body weight and protecting facial skin from sunlight may reduce strain or visibility, although these steps cannot remove established vessels. Do not rely on creams that promise to erase veins. A clinician can examine the pattern, check for symptoms of deeper vein problems, and discuss options such as sclerotherapy or light-based treatment when appropriate.

Arrange an assessment if new leg veins appear with aching, swelling, heaviness, itching, skin colour change, or a sore that does not heal. Seek urgent help for sudden one-sided leg swelling, warmth, severe pain, chest pain, or breathlessness. Facial vessels with persistent flushing, burning, or eye symptoms also deserve a clinical review because an underlying skin condition may need treatment.

Are these spider veins or larger varicose veins? Could my symptoms suggest a vein problem beneath the skin? Which treatment suits their location and colour? What can I expect during recovery?