Facial Veins
Visible facial veins, which have many different names (spider veins, telangiectasias, spider angiomas, benign vascular lesions), are actually dilated blood vessels. They are usually found on the forehead, nose, cheeks, eyelids, neck, and upper chest. Blood vessel dilation is due to weakening of the elastic fibers in the walls of the blood vessel. Visible veins are associated with excessive sun exposure, normal aging, steroid use, liver disease, genetics, radiation therapy, rosacea, and trauma. On the face, visible veins can range in size from the tip of a pencil to bigger than a pencil eraser. Visible veins may be even larger on sites other than the face.