Tiny purple lines on my legs
You look down and see thin purple or red lines on your legs. They may sit in a web or spread out like tiny branches. They lie flat, just under the skin, so you can see them but not feel a bulge.
Most of the time these are spider veins. Small veins near the skin have widened and filled with blood. That makes them show through as fine colored lines.
Many things add strain to leg veins. Long hours on your feet, extra weight, pregnancy, hormone shifts, and sun can all play a part. They often run in families too, so you may see the same lines on a parent.
When to see someone
See a doctor if one leg swells, aches, or feels heavy most days. Get care right away for a vein that bleeds, a sore that will not heal, or skin that turns brown, hard, or itchy. Sudden pain, warmth, and swelling in one calf need same-day care, since that can mean a clot.
Below is a list of home and folk remedies people have used for spider veins. Each one has a grade that shows how much research stands behind it. A grade is not a promise of results, so check with your doctor first.
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