Spider telangiectasias
Disease Information
In-Depth
A spider telangiectasia may seem scary at first, but it can be effectively treated — and sometimes it even goes away on its own. Read on for more information about spider telangiectasias.
What causes spider telangiectasia?
Doctors don’t really know what causes spider telangiectasias.
How common are they?
They’re pretty common, and often appear in adults as well.
Are they painful?
No. Spider telangiectasias don’t hurt.
Signs and symptoms
What are the signs of spider telangiectasias?
The only sign of a spider telangiectasia is the mark itself. They look like little red lines on the surface of the skin. While they can appear anywhere on your child’s body, they often show up on the face.
Are there any symptoms?
No — spider telangiectasias are only cosmetic concerns.
Long-term outlook
What is the long-term outlook for my child?
Just fine. Spider telangiectasias don't pose any health problems for your child. The only decision you’ll need to make is whether you’d like your child to have laser therapy to get rid of them.
Do spider telangiectasias come back after treatment?
It’s possible. And new spider telangiectasias can appear at any time.
FAQ
Q: What are spider telangiectasias?
A: They’re abnormally formed blood vessels that appear as tiny red lines anywhere on your child’s skin.
Q: Do spider telangiectasias get better on their own?
A: Some do. Others require laser therapy before they fade. For more information about laser therapy, see the Treatment & Care section.
Q: Are there any symptoms of spider telangiectasias?
A: No. They’re just cosmetic concerns.
Q: Are they painful?
A: No. Spider telangiectasias don’t hurt.
Q: How are they treated?
A: Often, we don’t treat spider telangiectasias at all because they’re not a health risk for your child. Depending on where they are, however, you may decide you’d like to get rid of them for cosmetic reasons. At Children’s, we use a device called a pulsed-dye laser to destroy the blood vessels that are causing the birthmark.
Q: What makes Children’s different?
A: Our physicians are bright, compassionate and committed to focusing on the whole child, not just his condition — that’s one reason we’re frequently ranked as a top pediatric hospital in the United States. And our physicians use the latest equipment to treat your child’s spider telangiectasias, which means less pain, faster recovery and no scarring.
Questions to ask your doctor
It can be difficult to remember all the questions that you want to ask your child’s doctor at the appointment, and many parents find it helpful to jot them down. Here are some to get you started:
- Could something else be causing my child’s symptoms?
- What treatments are available?
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What are the complications or after effects of the treatments?
| Kid-centered care |
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Therapies like pulsed dye laser can sometimes be intimidating for young children, so we’ve built our treatments around concepts that work for kids. Our entire staff is highly trained and experienced. And more importantly, we’re all dedicated to working with families — to make sure that your child is as comfortable as possible during the pulsed dye laser procedure. |
