Leg thread veins, also referred to as spider veins can appear on the surface of the skin. They can appear blue, purple or red in colour and are thin lines that look a little like a web or branch. They are usually not painful or harmful but can be annoying and affect your confidence when you want to bare your legs, particularly in the summer months. Thread veins are different from varicose veins which are larger and deeper, may appear lumpy or twisted and are usually flesh coloured or red. If you have leg veins that bother you, our skin experts can treat this condition quickly and effectively. You may also experience facial thread veins which can also be treated at Harley Skin and Laser in Stoke on Trent.

What are leg thread veins?
Leg thread veins occur when a valve inside a vein stops working properly. Our veins carry blood to the heart and to stop blood flowing backwards, veins have a one-way valve that closes once the blood has passed through. If the valve is damaged or weakened, it could mean that the blood struggles to flow in the correct direction which then causes a small pool inside the vein. This causes the vein to branch out causing the thread vein.

Many people who suffer from leg thread veins will find it is genetic. This condition is also found more commonly in women than in men. Also as we age, valves become weaker, so we are more likely to develop leg thread veins. Being overweight can also be a cause, as extra pressure is placed on the legs. Pregnancy can also be a cause due to increased blood moving through the body as well as the extra weight placed on the legs. Also if you sit or stand for extended periods, your heart has to work harder to pump blood in the right direction. Hormones can also have an effect, for example, birth control, as well as menopause, can be a cause, as estrogen can weaken vein valves.

Affecting more than 50% of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB), spider veins, commonly known as thread veins, red veins or broken veins can also appear on any part of the body. Although harmless, they can be a common cause of distress with those afflicted, for smaller veins such as these we also offer our Microsclerotherapy Treatment.

How can veins be removed from legs?
At Harley Skin and Laser we use the medical Motus AY ND YAG Laser. This will break down unwanted veins using brief pulses of laser light. The light heats up the veins very quickly causing them to collapse in on themselves. The process is called photothermolysis.

What is the treatment process and how many sessions will I need?
Depending on the size and number of thread veins, this will differ. We often find that some clients see results after one treatment, whereas others will need a course of three to six to see optimum results. Treatments are carried out at 6 – 8 week internals, so plan for the treatment to take around three to six months.