Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
— Written By Heather Smith RN, BSN
Updated on August 31, 2022
Sometimes telangiectasia is a symptom of a more serious condition.
Read on to learn about causes and risk factors for telangiectasia. This article also presents various treatments available and steps you can take to prevent spider veins.
What is telangiectasia?
“Telangiectasia” is the medical term for a condition people commonly call “spider veins” because of how they look. Spider veins are small groupings of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
They are atypical enlargements of small blood vessels. Their thin purple, red, or blue lines
Telangiectasia is rarely a health concern, although it can be itchy and painful.
Many adults will develop some spider veins between 30 and 50 years old.
Treatments usually focus on correcting the cosmetic appearance of the skin.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare, genetically inheritable condition that causes unusually fragile blood vessels to form in vital organs, explains the
If these vessels burst, it causes bleeding throughout the body and is life threatening. Frequent nosebleeds are a common symptom of HHT.
What causes telangiectasia?
Although the exact cause of telangiectasia is
- older adulthood
- experiences smoking
- pregnancy
- experience with obesity
- sun and wind exposure
- varicose veins
- overuse of steroid creams
- injury to the area
- genetics
- heavy alcohol consumption
- prolonged sitting or standing
Sometimes telangiectasia is a symptom of a medical condition, which can include inheritable, autoimmune, and liver conditions:
- Ataxia-telangiectasia: A rare, inheritable condition affecting the immune and nervous systems.
- Bloom syndrome: A rare, inheritable condition characterized by slow growth, sun sensitivity, and redness or discoloration of the face.
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: Also called Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, HHT is a genetic condition affecting blood vessels in the skin and vital organs, leading to bleeding.
- Port wine stain: A
blood vessel malformation Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source that presents as a large patch of discolored skin. - Rosacea: An inflammatory condition causing skin redness or discoloration and rash on the face. Learn more about rosacea here.
- Dermatomyositis: A rare inflammatory condition that affects muscle and skin. Learn about dermatomyositis here.
- Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A form of lupus that primarily affects the skin.
- Scleroderma: A connective tissue condition that causes inflammation throughout the body. Learn about scleroderma here.
- Liver diseases: These include cirrhosis and hepatitis. Learn more about liver diseases here.
- Spider angioma: A
collection of wide blood vessels Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source near the skin’s surface. - Xeroderma pigmentosum: A rare, inheritable condition in which the skin and eyes are highly sensitive to sunlight.
How do you diagnose telangiectasia?
A medical professional will diagnose telangiectasia by physically assessing the skin and reviewing your medical history.
No labs or imaging tests are necessary for mild spider veins. However, your physician may perform Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the extent of the atypical blood vessel changes, especially when it involves the legs. They may also use ultrasound to explore the possibility of venous insufficiency.
Read about venous insufficiency here.
How do you treat telangiectasia?
Telangiectasia treatment usually focuses on enhancing the appearance of the skin. There are several treatment methods, including:
- Sclerotherapy: Using ultrasound imaging, the doctor injects a foam or liquid into the blood vessels. This causes scarring, which stops blood flow through them. They eventually shrink. Learn about sclerotherapy here.
- Laser treatment: This focuses on heating the blood vessels to seal them off.Laser treatment for spider veins does not require injections or incisions in the skin. There is a chance of pigmentation changes with laser treatment.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL): IPL devices deliver light in
many wavelengths Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source instead of a single wavelength with laser treatment. Like laser treatment, IPL heats the blood vessels and does not involve injections or incisions. - Microphlebectomy: This is minor surgery using small hooks to remove the damaged blood vessels.
- Thermocoagulation: Much like laser therapy, this treatment heats the blood vessels from inside to seal them from further blood flow. The doctor inserts a fine needle through the skin and inside the vessels, then heats up the needle.
Discuss the available treatment options with your doctor. The best one for you may depend on the severity of spider veins, your skin tone, and your preferences.
Find out if spider vein treatment is right for you here.
What does telangiectasia look like?
Telangiectasia develops gradually and appears as thin, web-like lines.Depending on the affected blood vessels, spider veins can be blue, red, or purple.Usually, they are flat against the skin without raised areas.They are not the same as varicose veins, which are larger and raised.
Telangiectasia can form anywhere on the body, but the legs and face are most common.
What is the outlook?
Telangiectasia typically
Some forms of telangiectasia bleed and cause significant problems. Telangiectasia may also occur in the brain or intestines. Treatment focuses on stopping the bleeding and preventing anemia, which is when you do not have enough red blood cells.
Can you prevent telangiectasia?
- Maintain a moderate weight.
- Avoid or reduce smoking.
- Get regular exercise.
- Dress in loose clothing on the upper arms and legs.
- Wear compression stockings if standing or walking for extended periods.
- Reduce or avoid heavy alcohol consumption.
- Protect your skin from the sun.
- Limit your use of corticosteroid creams.
Learn about compression stocking uses here.
Frequently asked questions
William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS, reviewed the following questions.
What does it mean if you have telangiectasia?
Telangiectasia means you have small blood vessel clusters visible near the surface of your skin. Spider veins is a common description of them. There are rare, inheritable causes, but in most people, a combination of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors lead to telangiectasia.
What is the main cause of telangiectasia?
Many times, the cause of telangiectasia is unknown. Factors that increase the chance of developing spider veins include:
- older adulthood
- sun and wind exposure
- heavy alcohol consumption
- smoking
- family history of spider veins
Can telangiectasia be benign?
Most of the time, telangiectasia is benign, meaning it is noncancerous. Rarely, spider veins are a symptom of a serious medical condition. A physician can determine if telangiectasia is cause for concern.
Summary
Telangiectasia involves small blood vessels visible near the skin’s surface. They have web-like appearances, and people often call them spider veins. They sometimes appear for unknown reasons. Other times, there may be genetic or environmental factors.
Most of the time, telangiectasia is a harmless condition, and treatment focuses on removing its appearance in the skin.
HHT is a rare, inheritable condition that causes telangiectasia in vital organs. This can lead to widespread bleeding if they burst.
If you have concerns about telangiectasia, contact a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and next steps.
