Spider Veins & Vascular Lesions

Varicose veins are enlarged superficial veins in the legs. They are caused by loss of elasticity in the veins, which causes them to stretch, widen and lengthen. When the veins widen, it causes the valves to separate, resulting in blood pooling in the stretched out blood vessel. The lengthening of the vein gives it a snakelike bulging appearance.

Spider veins are enlarged or broken capillaries. They are smaller in size and appear blue and purple in colour. Spider veins can be caused or worsened by taking vasodilators, drugs or substances that cause the blood vessels to dilate.