Large blue veins all over hips and legs at 21? (Photo)

Question

I have these awful blue veins all over my hips and thighs that have rapidly spread from my hips in the past 6 months. I went to a vein doctor and they said they're not varicose as they did an ultrasound on my legs. They told me I'm just pale, but I know tons of people paler than I that don't have this problem. May be genetic, but my parents don't have them either. Is this normal? Can this be treated to remove the appearance? I feel awful about them. 21yo, no kids, 5'5 140lb

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

It’s important to distinguish between varicose veins and spider veins when choosing between laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and vein surgery. With two board certified vein specialists, our center uses a combination of visual examination, functional flow measurements, ultrasound, transillumination, and infrared light to map out vein networks prior to therapy. Lasers can be used to treat deep varicose vein insufficiency, vein perforators, and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is ideal for spider veins and reticular veins. Whereas surgery is reserved for severely incompetent varicose vein segments.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Andres Zavala, DO · Answer

What you have are called Reticular veins.  Some people have more than others.  Sometimes underlying venous reflux will cause you to develop a lot more of them.  Was your ultrasound done in the lying position or standing up? A proper venous ultrasound should be done while upright, otherwise reflux may be misssed.  If you in fact have no reflux, you can treat these veins with sclerotherapy alone and they usually respond very well.  If you have reflux, then the underlying reflux should be treated first. Overtime, you may develop more and maintenance sclerotherapy may be needed but the frequency of this varies from patient to patient.

Ramandeep Sidhu, MD · Answer

Great question and the best way to evaluate is by consultation and examination. they are not reticular veins looking at the pics but only way to tell is examining them. I do recommend ultrasound for evaluation and if no reflux they are usually considered as cosmetic by the insurance companies. Having said that if they bother you they can be easily fixed with no down time.

Ray Bayati, MD · Answer

Hi
The first thing to have evaluation by your doctor and have ultrasound to exclude vein reflux.
If positive then Vein ablation is the treatment
If negative then it would be a question of cosmetic treatment. You have fair skin and veins tend to show them well under skin. 
The ultrasound is the key at this time.
I would be hesitant to do sclerotherapy for cosmetic reason all over the leg.
Best of Luck

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

If venous ultrasound Doppler is normal, you can get these treated with sclerotherapy.You don't have to have parents with varicose veins, reticular veins or spider veins to have the same.Hratch L Karamanoukian MD FACScertified vein specialist from ABVLM

John Landi, MD · Answer

What you have are called reticular veins and they can be treated by sclerotherapy. However, over your lifetime many will recur.

Gary Nackman, MD, FACS · Answer

You have normal reticular veins. If they bother you cosmetically, sclerotherapy would be my first choice to treat them.

Manu B. Aggarwal, MD · Answer

These appear to be normal veins, called reticular veins. You did the right thing by having an ultrasound done and assessing your veins. Since it was all normal, this would be considered cosmetic. There are different modalities to treat these types of veins (sclerotherapy, laser treatment). You might want to try compression stockings during long periods of standing/sitting to see if they are less apparent. Otherwise, some folks just have more visible veins.

Michael Nguyen, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. My recommendation would be to visit a vein specialist to take a look at your veins and do a full re-evaluation. Healthy leg veins contain valves that open and close to help the blood return back to the heart. On the other hand, venous reflux disease develops when the valves that keep blood flowing out of the legs and back to the heart no longer function, causing to pool in the legs and leading to signs and symptoms such as varicose veins, leg or ankle swelling, leg heaviness and fatigue, leg pain, aching or cramping, burning or itching of the skin, restless legs, skin changes or rashes, ulcers, open wounds, or sores. Many factors contribute to the presence of venous reflux including age, gender, family history, heavy lifting, multiple pregnancies, obesity, prolonged standing, etc. In any case, your vein specialist can help you manage your care and also be informed on how to treat and also prevent venous insufficiency. If you are negative for venous insufficiency, cosmetic sclerotherapy is one of the options to treat spider veins in the lower extremities.

Ramtin Massoudi, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi Dear
It appears that the source of these veins are some coming from pelvic area  and some from Great saphenous veins (superficial veins in the legs). If you have no symptoms these are more cosmetic and if you have pelvic pain that need to be treated.
Thank you
Ramtin Massoudi, MD

Large blue veins all over hips and legs at 21? (Photo)

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