Thread or spider veins (“red or blue biro lines”, Figure 10) on the thighs and calves are often present alongside varicose veins, and are very common following pregnancy or after prolonged use of the oral contraceptive pill. These are never harmful or painful, and are essentially cosmetic blemishes. They can sometimes be successfully treated by microinjections, thermocoagulation with a fine heated probe (Figure 8) or laser therapy, and do not usually require bandaging afterwards. All of these are performed as an outpatient without need for anaesthetic and can be repeated as and when required.
