Spider veins are dilated small blood vessels that have a red or bluish color. They appear mostly on the legs, occasionally on the face or elsewhere, and may often be unwanted. They can be short, unconnected lines each about the size of a large hair or connected in a scraggly, "sunburst" pattern. They may also look like a spider web or tree branches. Sometimes, they occur in a small area and aren't very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive. Large dilated blood vessels called varicose veins may be raised above the skin surface. Although we do not treat these veins with sclerotherapy, they may occur along with spider veins. Although these tiny blood vessels carry blood, the great majority of them, especially spider veins, are not necessary. If they are unsightly or uncomfortable, they can be treated with an injection of a solution that will cause them to fade or disappear altogether. There is about a 50 to 90 percent chance the treatment will greatly improve the appearance in the problem area.