Spider veins, just like varicosities, develop in people with venous insufficiency due to increased pressure of the blood in venous system. “Spiders” form when microscopic capillaries of the skin become dilated by that pressure.

In Latin it is called “telangiectasia”. Obviously, just like with varicose veins, spider veins do not represent a disease by themselves, but rather a different manifestation of venous insufficiency. As such, the spider veins should not be treated prior to resolution of their underlying cause, venous insufficiency.

The pictures above depicts an extreme case of Spider Veins.