Do spider veins itch?

The medical explanation for spider nevus is a dilation of the small arteries in the skin and mucous membranes. It is named because its shape is similar to that of a spider. Pressing the central erythema with a pin head can cause the surrounding capillaries to fade. It is usually distributed on the chest, hands, neck, etc. Many patients feel particularly panicked because they don’t know enough about spider nevi. Spider nevi themselves do not itch. If spider nevi appear, you should go to the hospital in time to find out the cause.

1. Do spider nevi itch?

Spider nevi themselves do not itch, but skin itching is common. Spider nevi are skin changes caused by cirrhosis of the liver or increased estrogen levels in the body. They are a manifestation of dilation of capillaries on the body surface. They are caused by cirrhosis of the liver and mainly exist in the superior vena cava area, arms, upper chest and other skin. At the same time, increased estrogen levels can cause skin itching, and the itching is not limited to the spider nevi. It's generalized skin itching.

2. Symptoms of spider nevus

Spider nevi are the result of dilation of small arteries on the skin and mucous membranes. They appear on the skin like a spider. The small ones are as small as the head of a pin, and the large ones can be more than 1 cm in diameter. The center is slightly raised. If you press the central erythema with the head of a pin, the surrounding capillaries will fade and recover after the pressure is removed. They usually appear in areas where the superior vena cava is distributed, such as the hands, face, neck, chest and shoulders. The blood flow direction of spider nevus is from the central point to the surrounding capillary branches, so when the central part is compressed, the blood flow is blocked and the spider nevus disappears due to ischemia. The symptom of spider nevus is that there is a red spider lying on the skin. When you press the red spot in the center of the spider nevus with a pinhead or other object, the capillaries around it will fade, and they will recover after the pressure is removed. Spider nevi themselves are not harmful to the human body, but if spider nevi are found, you should go to the hospital immediately to check your liver function and liver B-ultrasound to rule out malignant tumors and various diseases that cause liver failure.

3. Causes of spider nevus formation

The occurrence of spider nevi is often related to the body's estrogen level. Spider nevi are vascular nevi formed by the branching expansion of the terminal arterioles in the skin. When the liver is diseased, the ability to inactivate estrogen decreases, resulting in a large accumulation of estrogen in the body, causing the expansion of the arterioles in the body. However, the appearance of spider nevi does not necessarily mean that you have a disease. They can occasionally be seen in pregnant women and some adolescent girls. Physical therapy can cure the disease by destroying the central blood vessels using high-frequency electrocautery, diathermy, or carbon dioxide laser, YAG laser, or microwave therapy.