What causes thread veins?

Up to 90% of people with thread veins have a family history of them

Increased blood moving through the body in addition to the extra weight of the foetus places more pressure on leg veins during pregnancy. Some women notice that spider veins disappear after pregnancy, but they can be permanent

Thread veins tend to affect women more often than men

The valves in veins tend to get weaker over time. The calf muscles, which help support the veins in the legs and enable them to pump blood upward, may also lose some of their strength as a person grows older

Extra body weight can place added pressure on leg veins

Hormonal birth control and treatments for menopause may increase the risk of thread veins because oestrogen can weaken vein valves

Veins in the legs have to work harder to pump blood up towards the heart when a person remains in the same position for several hours at a time

This can damage the valves and make them unable to work properly

This can be due to forceful coughing, sneezing, or vomiting. Some women may get thread veins on their face after pushing during childbirth

Ultraviolet light from the sun can damage the skin and cause broken blood vessels or thread veins, especially on the face

Trauma to the skin (for example a wound)

Saunas, sunbeds and hot baths

Increased blood pressure can cause damage to veins

Previous treatment, or an underlying predisposition, for varicose veins

Alcohol can dilate the blood vessels temporarily, and frequent alcohol consumption may lead to the appearance of thread veins on the face.