Spider Veins Vs Varicose Veins

A telangiectasia is a confluence of dilated intradermal venules of less than 1 mm in caliber. Telangiectasia are more commonly known as spider veins and thread veins. They can be pink, red and have different hues in the red to purple blue range. Spider veins occur in 15 % of men and 25 % of women in the general population.In the classification of veins, telangiectasias are classified as type I veins. Spider veins are amenable to laser therapy and sclerotherapy. A varicose vein is a... more

That's a great question.  There are several differences that I have summarized below: Spider veins:  usually much smaller in size, up to 1 mm in size.  They are typically purple to purple-red in color and typically asymptomatic.  They are best treated with sclerotherapy, very rarely is laser therapy indicated. Varicose veins:  these are larger, blue, bulging veins, usually several mm in diameter.  They can be symptomatic and cause a feeling of leg... more

There are a several key differences between varicose and spider veins. Spider veins are smaller, usually less than 1 mm in diameter. Varicose veins are larger. Spider veins are superficial in nature (surface), whereas varicose veins usually involve the major veins of the legs. Spider veins are flat, varicose veins (when at the surface) are bumpy or bubbly looking. Varicose veins do not function properly. Blood pools in the legs because the valves inside the varicose veins do not prevent... more