Small veins that become visible towards the surface of the skin are often known as thread veins or spider veins. These small veins can often appear as red or purple thread-like strands, running through the skin on the various areas of the face or body. The most common areas where they can develop include: the face, shoulders, decolletage, legs, feet and occasionally the stomach, appearing as a single strand or as a cluster. Thread veins can affect any person, at any age and can often link their development to stress or trauma to the skin, as well as exposure to the sun or from certain medical conditions.

Visible veins on the legs or face are the result of enlarged vessels that are closer to the skin than other veins in the body. Many veins that appear on the legs or feet can often be attributed to the stress that prolonged periods of standing can cause. This can also be true of people who are of heavier stature, as the extra weight puts strain on the legs. When veins appear on the face they are most likely to be seen on the nose, cheeks and chin. These veins are often caused by long-term skin inflammation (such as with the medical condition Rosacea), or as a result of exposure to the sun and / or alcohol consumption.

Treating thread veins is simple at Light Touch Clinic. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy is the clinic’s preferred method of laser therapy. The procedure works by delivering pulsating waves of light into the skin, which heats up and destroys any unwanted cells, reducing the appearance of thread veins. By assessing your thread veins during a pre-treatment consultation, a recommended course of treatments can be advised. After treatment, the tone of the skin should look more even with the much reduced appearance of visible veins.