Dilated blood vessels - also called Varicose or spider veins - have a red or bluish colour and appear on the surface of the body, particularly the legs and occasionally the face or elsewhere. These vessels can become unsightly and can produce a dull aching of the legs after prolonged standing.
They may be visible as short, unconnected lines each about the size of a large hair; they may be connected in a scraggy 'sunburst' pattern, or they may resemble a spider web or tree with branches. In some people they occur in a small area and are not particularly noticeable. In others they may cover quite a large area of skin and be unsightly.
Larger dilated blood vessels may be serpentine and raised above the skin surface. These large veins are called varicose veins and frequently occur in association with a poorly working valve in a main superficial vein. They often occur in association with spider veins. A characteristic of dilated blood vessels in many sufferers is pain, ranging from a dull throbbing pain to a burning sensation, especially with prolonged standing. Though dilated blood vessels do carry blood, (often the flow is in the wrong direction) a great majority are not necessary to the circulatory system. Thus, if their presence is distressing, they can be treated by an injection of a solution that will cause them to disappear, or at least become much smaller. The chance for a greatly improved appearance is about 80% in the hands of Physicians trained in the technique. Treatment will also relieve any discomfort caused by the veins.