Spider Veins Symptoms & Diagnosis
Find your care
We offer a full range of vein treatments, including ones developed at UCLA Health. Call 310-206-6294 to learn more about our services.
Symptoms of Spider Veins
Red or bluish-purple blood vessels appear, usually on the legs or thighs, but sometimes on the face, forearms or hands.
Spider veins usually do not cause any symptoms, but rarely may cause a mild dull discomfort or burning sensation. Insurance companies consider these veins to be cosmetic and do not usually cover their treatment.
Diagnosis of Spider Veins
Duplex ultrasonography is the diagnostic method of choice for diagnosing venous disease.
Your physician might order this painless test to assess the valve function in the groin, and can also determine how much blood is flowing back into the legs. This test can also determine the structure of your leg veins, as well as the presence of blood clots in the veins. With this test, your physician can determine the proper course of treatment for your symptoms.
This test can take between 20-30 minutes for each leg.