BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuTelangiectasiaVascular ectasias; Spider angiomaTelangiectasias are small, widened blood vessels on the skin. They are usually harmless, but may be associated with several diseases. Causes Telangiectasias may develop anywhere within the body. But they are most easily seen on the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes. Usually, they do not cause symptoms. Some telangiectasias bleed and cause significant problems. Telangiectasias may also occur in the brain or intestines and cause major problems from bleeding.Causes may include:Rosacea (skin problem that causes the face to turn red) Aging Problem with genes Pregnancy Sun exposure Varicose veins Overuse of steroid creams Trauma to the area Diseases associated with this condition include:Ataxia-telangiectasia (disease that affects the skin, balance, coordination, and other areas of the body) Ataxia-telangiectasiaAtaxia-telangiectasia is a rare childhood disease. It affects the brain and other parts of the body. Ataxia refers to uncoordinated movements, such ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bloom syndrome (inherited disease that causes short stature, skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays of the sun, and redness of the face) Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (skin disease causing patches of redness) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasiaHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited disorder of the blood vessels that can cause excessive bleeding.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (disease that causes port-wine stain, varicose veins, and soft tissue problems) Nevus flammeus such as port-wine stain Nevus flammeusRed birthmarks are skin markings created by blood vessels close to the skin surface. They develop before or shortly after birth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Port-wine stainA port-wine stain is a birthmark in which swollen blood vessels create a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rosacea (skin condition that causes redness of the face) RosaceaRosacea is a chronic skin problem that makes your face turn red. It may also cause swelling and skin sores that look like acne.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sturge-Weber disease (disease that involves port-wine stain and nervous system problems) Sturge-Weber diseaseSturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare disorder that is present at birth. A child with this condition will have a port-wine stain birthmark (usually ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Xeroderma pigmentosum (disease in which the skin as well as the tissue covering the eye are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet light) Xeroderma pigmentosumXeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare condition passed down through families. XP causes the skin and tissue covering the eye to be extremely sensitiv...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lupus (immune system disease) LupusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CREST syndrome (a type of scleroderma that involves the buildup of scar-like tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body and damages the cells that line the walls of small arteries) SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your health care provider if you notice enlarged vessels in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, including:Where are the blood vessels located? Do they bleed easily and without reason? What other symptoms are present? Tests may be needed to diagnose or rule out a medical condition. Tests may include:Blood tests CT scans CT scansA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function studies MRI scans MRI scansA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-rays Sclerotherapy is the treatment for telangiectasias on the legs. In this procedure, a saline (salt) solution or other chemical is injected directly into the spider veins on the legs. Laser treatment is typically used to treat telangiectasias of the face.SclerotherapyVaricose veins are swollen, tortuous, and sometimes painful veins that have filled with blood that does not drain out in a normal fashion.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesKelly R, Baker C. Other vascular disorders. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 106.Patterson JW. Vascular tumors. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2021:chap 39.AllVideoImagesTogAngioma serpiginosum - illustration Angioma serpiginosum appears most frequently in adolescent females and consists of small, superficial telangiectasias (vascular lesions) in the skin.Angioma serpiginosumillustrationTelangiectasia - legs - illustration Essential telangiectasia often appears over the lower extremities, beginning in adolescence, and continuing throughout adult life.Telangiectasia - legsillustrationTelangiectasias - upper arm - illustration Telangiectasias of the skin occur in multiple conditions. Thin skin secondary to long-term steroid use or aging, collagen vascular disease, and hormonal variation (particularly estrogen) are all implicated in the formation of telangiectasias.Telangiectasias - upper armillustrationAngioma serpiginosum - illustration Angioma serpiginosum appears most frequently in adolescent females and consists of small, superficial telangiectasias (vascular lesions) in the skin.Angioma serpiginosumillustrationTelangiectasia - legs - illustration Essential telangiectasia often appears over the lower extremities, beginning in adolescence, and continuing throughout adult life.Telangiectasia - legsillustrationTelangiectasias - upper arm - illustration Telangiectasias of the skin occur in multiple conditions. Thin skin secondary to long-term steroid use or aging, collagen vascular disease, and hormonal variation (particularly estrogen) are all implicated in the formation of telangiectasias.Telangiectasias - upper armillustrationRelated Information Bleeding(Injury) Review Date: 6/7/2023 Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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TelangiectasiaVascular ectasias; Spider angiomaTelangiectasias are small, widened blood vessels on the skin. They are usually harmless, but may be associated with several diseases. Causes Telangiectasias may develop anywhere within the body. But they are most easily seen on the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes. Usually, they do not cause symptoms. Some telangiectasias bleed and cause significant problems. Telangiectasias may also occur in the brain or intestines and cause major problems from bleeding.Causes may include:Rosacea (skin problem that causes the face to turn red) Aging Problem with genes Pregnancy Sun exposure Varicose veins Overuse of steroid creams Trauma to the area Diseases associated with this condition include:Ataxia-telangiectasia (disease that affects the skin, balance, coordination, and other areas of the body) Ataxia-telangiectasiaAtaxia-telangiectasia is a rare childhood disease. It affects the brain and other parts of the body. Ataxia refers to uncoordinated movements, such ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bloom syndrome (inherited disease that causes short stature, skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays of the sun, and redness of the face) Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (skin disease causing patches of redness) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasiaHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited disorder of the blood vessels that can cause excessive bleeding.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (disease that causes port-wine stain, varicose veins, and soft tissue problems) Nevus flammeus such as port-wine stain Nevus flammeusRed birthmarks are skin markings created by blood vessels close to the skin surface. They develop before or shortly after birth.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Port-wine stainA port-wine stain is a birthmark in which swollen blood vessels create a reddish-purplish discoloration of the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rosacea (skin condition that causes redness of the face) RosaceaRosacea is a chronic skin problem that makes your face turn red. It may also cause swelling and skin sores that look like acne.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sturge-Weber disease (disease that involves port-wine stain and nervous system problems) Sturge-Weber diseaseSturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare disorder that is present at birth. A child with this condition will have a port-wine stain birthmark (usually ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Xeroderma pigmentosum (disease in which the skin as well as the tissue covering the eye are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet light) Xeroderma pigmentosumXeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare condition passed down through families. XP causes the skin and tissue covering the eye to be extremely sensitiv...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lupus (immune system disease) LupusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CREST syndrome (a type of scleroderma that involves the buildup of scar-like tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body and damages the cells that line the walls of small arteries) SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your health care provider if you notice enlarged vessels in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, including:Where are the blood vessels located? Do they bleed easily and without reason? What other symptoms are present? Tests may be needed to diagnose or rule out a medical condition. Tests may include:Blood tests CT scans CT scansA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function studies MRI scans MRI scansA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-rays Sclerotherapy is the treatment for telangiectasias on the legs. In this procedure, a saline (salt) solution or other chemical is injected directly into the spider veins on the legs. Laser treatment is typically used to treat telangiectasias of the face.SclerotherapyVaricose veins are swollen, tortuous, and sometimes painful veins that have filled with blood that does not drain out in a normal fashion.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesKelly R, Baker C. Other vascular disorders. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 106.Patterson JW. Vascular tumors. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon's Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2021:chap 39.