Thread veins, also called spider veins, are tiny prominent veins just below the skin surface. They tend to branch and give a spidery sort of pattern hence their common name. Spider veins can occur anywhere on the body but most often on the legs and face.
The nose and cheek area are the most common areas on the face to be affected by thread veins.
There is no known single cause for face thread veins. However, contributory factors include genetics, ageing, loss of elasticity in skin, hormonal changes (i.e. during pregnancy and menopause) excessive exposure to the sun, wind or extreme temperatures, cortico-steroid medicines and radiotherapy.