Thread or spider veins happen when blockages occur in your bloodstream. Pressure building up behind the blockage causes tiny ruptures in the veins and arteries and blood leaks into new channels just below the surface of the skin, producing a visible network of veins on the surface itself.

They are not a serious medical condition but their ‘starburst’ effect is not a pretty sight and suggests early ageing and perhaps too much smoking and drinking.

Causes of thread veins

Thread veins can be caused by too much exposure to the sun over the years. They may also be inherited. They can sometimes be a sign

of rosacea, a skin condition. They can result from overuse of steroid creams.

They tend to become more obvious after mid-life, when the skin becomes thinner and loses some of its collagen.

Hormones also play a role. The hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can cause the development of varicose or spider veins and so can taking oestrogen, progesterone, and birth control pills.

Other factors that weaken vein valves and may cause varicose or spider veins include ageing, obesity, leg injury, and prolonged standing, such as for long hours in a job.